A conversation with Aritra Dey, Author of That Letter Box, published by Bluerose Publishers 1. Tell us about yourself. I work as a software engineer in Infosys and presently reside in Chennai, India. I was born in Bhadreshwar, a suburb of Calcutta, West Bengal. Literature has been my love from childhood. An avid bookworm, I have a huge collection of books in both of my houses. It’s my long time habit to read at least a few pages before hitting the bed. I am also a passionate Thespian and have co-founded ‘Theatrix Dramatics Society’ in Chennai. We have staged our first play, ‘Chakravyuh’ in January 2019, and ‘Wings of Freedom’ in March. Back in the college days, theatre was a huge part of my life as well. Among my other hobbies, cooking and taking wildlife photographs take precedence. I am a die-hard Liverpool fan. 2. If not being an author, what was your dream in life? Somehow I never imagined a life where I wouldn’t write. Be it a book or a script for a play, being a writer is something which I have always envisioned in my life. I might have tried my luck as a footballer if I hadn’t fallen in love with literature. 3. The letters are more or less obsolete these days owing to the technological advancements, what do you have to say about that? I am a fan of classics. The technological advancements have certainly made instant communication a reality across the globe, and has really eased life. But it never has the personal feel which a letter gives. In an IM, you can see the person online, when he/she is typing, and everything is short, a conversation. When a letter is written, it contains a thousand emotions, inked on a paper, written in hand. The anticipation of a letter’s arrival, the joy in reading it and the eagerness to reply back is a basket of emotions which can’t be fulfilled by IMs, however instant they are. 4. Personally, what do you prefer, receiving letters or the ease of technological communication? I use the technological communication frequently, but seldom for random chatting. It’s always for business or a purpose. I’d prefer letters over IMs any day. I want my personal communication to be personal. Not just a Hi followed by a smiley. 5. Who is your favourite author? I do love the work of a number of authors, whom I have taken inspiration from over the years, and the list tends to grow. Satyajit Ray, Ken Follet, Haruki Murakami, George R. R. Martin, Rabindranath Tagore top my list of favourite authors.
1. Tell us about yourself.
I work as a software engineer in Infosys and presently reside in Chennai, India. I was born in Bhadreshwar, a suburb of Calcutta, West Bengal. Literature has been my love from childhood. An avid bookworm, I have a huge collection of books in both of my houses. It’s my long time habit to read at least a few pages before hitting the bed.
I am also a passionate Thespian and have co-founded ‘Theatrix Dramatics Society’ in Chennai. We have staged our first play, ‘Chakravyuh’ in January 2019, and ‘Wings of Freedom’ in March. Back in the college days, theatre was a huge part of my life as well.
Among my other hobbies, cooking and taking wildlife photographs take precedence. I am a die-hard Liverpool fan.
2. If not being an author, what was your dream in life?
Somehow I never imagined a life where I wouldn’t write. Be it a book or a script for a play, being a writer is something which I have always envisioned in my life.
I might have tried my luck as a footballer if I hadn’t fallen in love with literature.
3. The letters are more or less obsolete these days owing to the technological advancements, what do you have to say about that?
I am a fan of classics. The technological advancements have certainly made instant communication a reality across the globe, and has really eased life. But it never has the personal feel which a letter gives. In an IM, you can see the person online, when he/she is typing, and everything is short, a conversation.
When a letter is written, it contains a thousand emotions, inked on a paper, written in hand. The anticipation of a letter’s arrival, the joy in reading it and the eagerness to reply back is a basket of emotions which can’t be fulfilled by IMs, however instant they are.
4. Personally, what do you prefer, receiving letters or the ease of technological communication?
I use the technological communication frequently, but seldom for random chatting. It’s always for business or a purpose.
I’d prefer letters over IMs any day. I want my personal communication to be personal. Not just a Hi followed by a smiley.
5. Who is your favourite author?
I do love the work of a number of authors, whom I have taken inspiration from over the years, and the list tends to grow.
Satyajit Ray, Ken Follet, Haruki Murakami, George R. R. Martin, Rabindranath Tagore top my list of favourite authors.