Each Short Story Will Change Your Heartbeat Rate - Shardul Dave (Author of Local Passenger)

Willingly or unwillingly we have always interacted with strangers during our train journeys. We observe the acts of unknown people and laugh, learn, admire, or hate them for their deeds!

1. Tell us more about your background and journey.

I am a recent MBA Graduate, 23 years old a passionate traveler from Anand, Gujarat. I was part of NCC and have been to Bangladesh as an Indian Ambassador in 2016 under the NCC Youth Exchange Program.

Moreover, I was honored twice with the Governor's medals in 2011 and 2016 for winning NCC Best Cadet competitions. Apart from that, I was also the program coordinator for UNESCO's world heritage volunteer program in 2018. I have been to Indonesia for one more cultural exchange program in 2019.

Camping, Open Mics, and traveling are integral parts of my lifestyle. Just a month back I published a book of short stories, which are specifically based on my experiences with the Great Indian Railway Journeys.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be an author?

I wrote my first poem when I was in Fifth Standard but eventually, in 2019 ending I was clear that I want to publish my own book! The journey was not very much directed, I wrote a lot of short stories and poems and ultimately came up with 'LOCAL PASSENGER'!!!

3. What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?

People were expecting Uniform Stories due to my past achievements and they were hoping for Man In Uniform kind of inspirational stories from me! Even the Publishing portion was a difficult job as I wanted to publish at Zero Cost!

I did research on publishing models, ISBN process, and cover designing for a couple of months and then I did everything by myself! Gradually, the people around me also enjoyed my writing on different topics. Although, I am yet to conduct a Formal Launch for my book, Let see how it will go!

4. We are curious to know more about "Local Passenger"?

Willingly or unwillingly we have always interacted with strangers during our train journeys. We observe the acts of unknown people and laugh, learn, admire, or hate them for their deeds!

This book includes short stories that are based on real-life incidents of my railway journeys. Each short story will change your heartbeat rate! It's a Local Train of stories passing through different junctions of emotions like Drama, Comedy, Self-Realisation, Sorrow, Inspiration, and all other intermediary emotional stations.

5. Who is your favorite author and why?

Mr. Ashok Dave (Gujarati Writer). because His writing is much more related to a common man's life. He doesn't write fairy tales, he writes real-life jokes and observations.

6.How do you define success for yourself?

If the moment you are living right now will become your happy memory later then that's a real success. Apparently, for me also the meaning of success changes at different phases of my life. Medals, Certificates, Grades, Fame everything is temporary, if an individual is spreading a smile, that is a success for me.

7. Which is your favorite book and why?

Panu Panchavanamu (Page No. 55) is my favorite book. It's a humorous autobiography of Ashok Dave. he wrote his entire life as a bunch of comedy incidents when he turned 55 years old.

Instagram ID - @shardul.dave