When I first started writing KOTMARTIAL, my Wednesday column on mxmindia.com, I never thought I would write for this long. Longevity was never a consideration. I was trying my hand at something I had never done before. Today, I celebrate a significant milestone: 500 weeks of uninterrupted publishing. And, as I look back, I see it has been all about consistency and fluidity of approach. I find myself both humbled and exhilarated by the sheer endurance of this task. How long I will continue to write is something I don’t know.
Writing a column for 500 weeks hasn’t been without its challenges. Life’s ups and downs, personal and professional commitments, have all tested me. But somehow, I’ve managed to stay the course, never missing a week. It has helped me realise the importance of resilience, discipline, and adaptability.
I could not imagine I would have something relevant to write every week and would find readers who would read. The engagement with readers, the unspoken dialogue and many times unsaid-unheard voices have fuelled the fire in me. And it prompted me to come back to the desk and to keep writing week after week.
The beauty of a KOTMARTIAL and my blog ‘Perceptions adulterated with reality‘ is its spectrum of subjects. I must thank Pradyuman of mxmindia.com for allowing me to write on topics that may not always be about advertising and marketing. Trust me, each column has been an opportunity to learn, grow, and challenge my perspectives.
Writing is like doodling in a different space for me. Whenever I write, I feel fresh. I am often unsure how the column will turn out or how it will be received by the readers. They have, in the past, surprised me with their reactions. To me, the journey of writing is fresh and starts every week piece I write.
It is tough to carve out a space in this era of information democratisation, bombardment, and shrinking attention spans. The column has found a space that reflects that I must be doing something right. I continue to aspire to gently nudge the readers to see the situation and life from a different perspective. Yes, it is opinionated and adulterated with my biases and sometimes skewed opinions. Still, hopefully, it is based on rationality, logic, experiences, and expectations.
Yes, it is a milestone for me, and I am celebrating not just the number- the 500th article but the journey itself. This is my uninterrupted 500 weeks on Mxmindia.com. However, the 500th article ( blog) happened a long time back with book reviews, movie reviews, and the #IgnorantHindu, which are not part of KotMartial.
Writing is a challenge. It asks you to be transparently naked with thoughts and willing to take criticism. I express my deepest gratitude to every reader who has been a part of this journey as I look forward to the future with building anticipation.
The journey will continue. Fresher opinions. New stories. Different perspectives. It was an almost kaleidoscopic experience as I refused to be narrowcast, settling down with only one subject to write about. In that way, I am a vagabond gipsy, letting the time take me on a journey I do not worry about.
I am reminded of a quote by the renowned author E.B. White: “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” And then I smile and know I want to enjoy the world. I am more inclined to appreciate the beauty of today than wait and build on aspirations of tomorrow. I live, accept and understand the duality of life. And that I will continue to do so.
Having reached a milestone of 500 weeks, I may write less, or I may not even write as I experiment and try to express myself in different formats, share the stories and reflect in compilations and maybe a novel here and a poem there.
I am unpredictable, and I wish to remain unpredictable. Here to a few more. Don’t tell me I never warned you.
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POST SCRIPT.
I must thank some people for the changes and evolution you may have witnessed in KotMartial and my writings. They are. Sumit Roy, Ajay K lal, NVS Shastry, Raja Mitra, Uday Vijayan, Sunil Verghese, Pradyuman, Aradhana Chandola, Ambi Parameshwaran and Peter Suresh.
Here is a bit more about me.
Till Now.
I initiated #IgnorantHindu in 2019. It is a compilation of curated information on the Hindu religion, the festivities, the rituals, and the practices, linking with the episodes defined in the scriptures and books. It is my contribution to sharing it with the next generation. Do check it out.
I have a few books published. Like every author, I love my first novel- ‘Chimera Of Lansdowne’. ‘Life Reloaded’ and ‘Reflections’ carry real-life impact stories contributed by many professionals. Recently, I published my first book of poems – ‘Always Questioning Life’.
Coming Soon.
Soon, the third issue of PAHAADI will be out. Pahaadi features selected stories from the short story contest for writers with roots in Uttarakhand. It is an annual contest I run in memory of my father. I hope some of you check them out and read them. I am seeking some support and, hence, am open to any sponsorship for Pahaadi-4, to be held in 2024.
My novel ‘Enchanting Neeli- First Love Second Time’ will be out early next year. Another book on ‘Laws of Life’ should be out by March 25th as I plan to launch it in the 36th reunion of the IIMA class of 87. I plan to take doodling and signature art more seriously and try exhibiting them.
Net Net.
As you may see, I am trying to do too many things. It keeps me busy. It keeps me preoccupied and closes the doors on the thoughts I don’t want to entertain.
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To connect, send an email, join on Twitter S_kotnala or subscribe to the weekly update.
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