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Karan Bajaj is the latest technocrat-turned-author on the literary scene. He talks to SHAILAJA TRIPATHI TANEJA about his debut novel, Keep off the Grass
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Photo: Murali Kumar K.
Book ends While inspired by Karan Bajaj’s life, the novel is not totally autobiographical
Karan Bajaj admits that he is shamelessly promoting his debut novel, “Keep Off the Grass”. His background as a management consultant comes in handy. From the saleable plot to the ready-made quotes for journos in the “FAQ” section of his website, it is all about packaging and sales. “In today’s world you have to sell, Bajaj comments. “I would prefer that people read my book and say ‘what bakwaas.’ If the book doesn’t get read, then what’s the point?”
His hard work has already started paying off. The book has even attracted a few Bollywood filmmakers. Ask him if this is a good time to be a writer and he says: “Well, it’s both good and bad. Good because you have an audience, publishers who are interested in publishing a new-age writing and bad because there are just too many of them. For me, good fiction should be able to transport the reader to another world.
But unfortunately there are many non-interesting books these days. There are no filters.” Bajaj claims he has managed to tell a story which will give a new experience, to the readers.
Like the title “Keep Off The Grass”, there is a liberal dose of drugs but also tells the story of a quest for meaning. The protagonist, Samrat Ratan, is a hot-shot investment banker in New York. He embarks on a journey to find a purpose in life. He lands up at IIM Bangalore, takes to drugs, and finds himself behind bars. The journey takes him to Rajasthan, Dharamsala, Banaras, Mumbai and ends with a bizarre encounter with Ruskin Bond.
“It’s about pseudo-philosophers who are very much part of the competitive jet-set corporate world who at the same time have a desire to find the meaning of life. And what’s wrong with that? With time and money available, it is a possibility. Six years ago, who would have thought of taking a six-month break from work and backpacking the way I am doing?”
While the book is inspired by Bajaj’s life, it is not completely autobiographical. Like Samrat, Bajaj also studied at IIM Bangalore. “There was a stage in life when I too had the desire to find meaning in life. I went to Benares but didn’t meet an aghori there like Samrat. I have borrowed heavily from my life but I have added stuff to make it more interesting.”
“There are elements of Jhumpa Lahiri as I touch upon the issue of immigrants in the U.S. There is a Chetan Bhagat-ish feel to the book as I talk of contemporary India and Shantaram comes in from Samrat’s travels through the exotic India. Then the Forrest Gump aspect kicks in when I show extraordinary things happening to an ordinary guy.”
Earlier working as Brand Manager with Procter and Gamble, Bajaj is currently on a six-month break before he takes on his new responsibility at Boston Consulting Group, in Washington D. C. The author is passionate about travelling. It was these sojourns that gave Bajaj things to write about. Just back from Bhutan and Mongolia, Bajaj will soon be off to Brazil, Turkey and Greece. “These experiences will find a place in my next story. It won’t be set in contemporary India but will span multiple countries.”
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