Author Bio: Manojit Majumdar, a seasoned author and sales professional with over 35 years of experience, currently plays a crucial role at Newgen Software, a billion-dollar market-valued company, where he’s in charge of building partner networks across 70 countries. Before Newgen, Manojit worked at IBM, serving as the Country Manager for Small Deals business in India/South Asia. He has worked with many other small and mid-size organizations.
Throughout his extensive career, Manojit has had the opportunity to explore business landscapes in 40-plus countries, gaining insights into the diverse challenges faced by businesses of all sizes.
His first book, “Lamb leading Lions – Why we do not have Microsoft or Google in India,” found success on Amazon’s hot seller list, showcasing Manojit’s ability to connect with readers and shed light on the unique hurdles businesses encounter in India.
Manojit’s dedication to learning is evident in his participation in executive courses at prestigious institutions like Harvard Business School (Global Business) and Wharton (Artificial Intelligence).
As he gears up to release his second book, readers can expect down-to-earth insights and practical wisdom on ethical sales, growth strategies, and the specific challenges that small and medium-sized enterprises often face. With a humble approach and a wealth of experience at IBM and Newgen Software, Manojit Majumdar remains a relatable voice in the world of sales and business leadership.
The Literature Times: Author, welcome to The Literature Times. Congratulations on the publication of your book! What feedback do you get from your readers? Please share your thoughts on this book.
Manojit Majumdar: Most readers who reviewed the book “Selling Is Not Cheating” gave very positive feedback. Senior people like it more than the less experienced professionals, is what I have noticed. People think this is a highly controversial topic but extremely relevant and are surprised that no one ever wrote a book on this subject. They are happy with my writing style as I have conversationally used everyday English, which is easy to understand. They are happy with the suggestions given as they address issues and concerns that most small and medium-sized businesses face and often have no answer.
The Literature Times: What motivates you to become a writer?
Manojit Majumdar: I do not know the correct answer. I used to write newsletters once in a while, however, the loneliness during Covid times made me write down my thoughts about a topic which I used to find very intriguing and made me write my first book. The research for the book which makes me read snippets here and there and the opportunity to discuss with people who I think know about the subject, makes the journey even more interesting.
The Literature Times: What are your favorite writing topics? Please tell us a little bit about your literary interests.
Manojit Majumdar: I somehow strongly feel about common subjects that do not get discussed. I get the urge to address such topics. That urge makes me write. I have written two books so far and people have appreciated both books’ subject matter.
The Literature Times: We were hoping you might tell us about some of the authors who have influenced you and whom you read!
Manojit Majumdar: Some of the books I have read in the recent past are “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, “Many Lives, Many Masters” written by Dr Brian Weiss, “The Shadow Lines” by Amitav Ghosh.
The Literature Times: The title is unique and appealing; how did you come up with it? Please tell us the story behind it.
Manojit Majumdar: In our everyday life, it is common to see salespeople trying to cheat their customers and believing it is a smart thing. This happens because they often get appreciated for twisting facts or telling outright lies to make a sale happen. Then a time comes when these lies do not work and we do not only lose market share and mind share, we lose revenue to the extent that the organisations are left with no option but to shut shop. I thought a book which can help create awareness and help change the thought process would be good for society, hence the book – “Selling Is Not Cheating”.
The Literature Times: What are your achievements so far? Tell us something about your writing career.
Manojit Majumdar: My first book, “Lamb Leading Lions” – Why We Do Not Have a Google or Microsoft from India, reached the second spot in the best seller list under the business section of Amazon. It was in the hot-selling section for quite some time.
The Literature Times: What is your current goal in writing a career? How do you see your future in writing?
Manojit Majumdar: As of now, I intend to write on a few topics in fiction and nonfiction. I have written small snippets and have kept them for converting those snippets into a book in the next year or two. I take around 2 years to complete a book as I have to do the writing after my office hours late in the evening or in the weekends, whatever works.
The Literature Times: Do you have any other novels in the works? Please keep us updated on your future endeavors.
Manojit Majumdar: I am writing a book on Bengal and life in Bengal, starting from the partition of Bengal. People who discuss partition only talk about the Punjab partition but rarely discuss the Bengal partition, and this is when Gandhiji went to Bengal twice to fast unto death to stop the violence; so I felt that most do not know about the Bengal partition. Similarly, people do not know much about Bengal, like the concept of caste differentiation almost does not exist, and most are not very materialistic by nature; hence, even class difference is almost non-existent. I think it can be an interesting story which can be told. Hence, I have started writing on this subject – Bengal and Bengalies. I have not decided on the name yet.
The Literature Times: How do you view Indian writing in the twenty-first century? What changes do you see in today’s writing style? Do you feel it has changed over time?
Manojit Majumdar: I think there were not many Indian authors earlier. I see a mushroom growth of authors nowadays, partly because self-publishing companies have made this happen. I think even authors’ writing style has become simpler and easier to understand, which the masses can appreciate.
The Literature Times: How simple/difficult was it for you to publish your book? What message do you want to send to aspiring authors?
Manojit Majumdar: Publishing my book was a breeze. Astitva Publication takes away the pain of publishing and makes life easy. They also understand the need for marketing and the most effective way of carrying out the same so that more customers can know the book’s presence.
