Recently, I applied and got selected for a publishing course at Seagull Books. In the application form, we were asked to write why we wanted to pursue a career in publishing in 500 words. This activity felt quite clarifying and I would like to share it because it really captures some key themes of my life.
Growing up in a Marwadi joint-family in Kolkata, I spent most of my childhood sitting in front of the television, enamoured by American cartoons, Chinese martial arts shows and English movies. I was fascinated by the kaleidoscope of stories in this world. In 8th Grade, one fateful afternoon, I found myself wandering in our school’s library. Running my fingers across the spines of books, I stumbled upon an entire row of pristine white, hard-bound books with bold lettering and colourful illustrations on the cover. I hadn’t really read any books up until then and picked one up at random whose title seemed vaguely familiar – The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I flipped through the pages and was immediately drawn to the black and white illustrations in the book. So, I took the book to the nearest bench and started reading. And to my everlasting gratitude, a whole new world of stories opened up for me! Later, I discovered that the book was part of the Great Illustrated Classics and there were over 60 titles in the series! Over the course of that year, I read them all.
After 10th grade, two momentous events occurred simultaneously that went on to shape my life. One, I was told I was adopted and second, our joint-family business was splitting up. These events shook the very foundation of my being and sent me down a spiral of self-sabotage. I spent the next 10 years of my life suffocating my dreams, destroying my health and squandering every chance at happiness. In the chaotic storm of life, my only faithful companions were books and I clung to them for dear life. Through sheer good luck and sporadic effort, I managed to secure an Under Graduation degree in Management Studies and a Masters in Business Administration. Over the course of the next 8 years, I worked in various roles in the family business ranging from manufacturing and warehousing of shirting fabrics in Mumbai to wholesale of women’s wear in Kolkata. I had convinced myself that the “right” thing to do was to shoulder my responsibilities and run the family business. But no matter how much I tried, my heart just wasn’t in it. I spent most of my time escaping into books and getting lost in stories.
Finally, in October of 2023, I mustered up the courage and left the family business. Since then, with the support of my family and friends, I have explored various interests ranging from scuba diving to mental health. And through this journey, I have found myself repeatedly drawn back into the world of books and stories. They have been a constant source of light in my life and I would like to help spread their light further. I would like to walk alongside fellow writers, artists and dreamers. I would like to understand what goes on behind the scenes at a publishing house, the many steps involved in publishing a book and bringing it into the hands of readers around the world.