QUEEN’S ROAD: Sreeretnan Nanu, who runs an electronics store in Mumbai, was inspired to write his book Thasmai not by an idol he worshipped but by meditation.
Becoming an author wasn’t something he planned, but he began to write while working as an engineer. The Malayalam book, translated into English by VijayaMenon, defies classification into form, though it has been labelled as a novel. There are merely two characters -- an interviewer and a ruler. The book is a representation of the author’s beliefs. It has futuristic ideas that if implemented according to him, could make the world more Utopian. During an interview while passing through Bengaluru, he talks of what drove him to write the book. Excerpts:
Tell us a little bit about the plot.
In any society, revolution needs to start from the economy. Soon India will stop importing, become self-sufficient and soon after start exporting surplus to other countries as well and using it to aid the IMF. Every citizen will hold one bank account -- with the RBI. Today, money making is a crime. In this society, wealth won’t even be taxable. Funds will be allowed to accumulate in a disciplined manner, and poverty, which is the root cause of terrorism will cease to exist. There will be a 100 per cent turnout for elections. These are some of the steps that the ruler in the book has already taken, and it has not merely benefited India but the whole world.
Do you see this taking shape soon?
Yes, I don’t think things could get any worse than they are, so I see all of this happening by 2030. Politicians are becoming powerless, so they have to be inspired by ideas, and, who knows, this book might give it to them.
All religions preach the same. Prophet Mohammed, Jesus, Guru Nanak all came down to give us the same message, and now the time has come to take that all in, plough the track and walk along it. Soon you won’t have to go looking elsewhere for heaven -- it’ll be right here.
How long did the book take to write?
In 2007, I was employed in the capacity of an engineer in an organisation in Mumbai when I started writing. I would sit for meditation for a couple of hours every morning, brainstorm for ideas and then use them to write. Since economy plays a crucial role in the story, I had to first define currency, which took months. I completed and published the book in 2010.
What are you working on now?
I hadn’t planned to write this book, nor do I want to write any other. I didn’t even want an English translation, but someone who read the original felt that the reach of such a book should not be limited because it’s in a regional language and so arranged for it to be translated.
I want to implement the ideas as best as I can. I’m also sure that we’ll begin to see signs of change within the next 10 years.