Wing Commander M K Devidasan was born on 29 June 1941, in Thrissur District, Kerala, India. He joined the Indian Air Force as an airman in the wireless operator trade on 06 June 1959. While working, he continued his further studies in engineering and graduated in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering in 1965. He decided to continue his career in the Indian Air Force itself and got through Services Selection Board and went for one and a half year training at Air Force Technical College, Bangalore, and passed out as a Pilot Officer on 01 June 1968 winning a medal for his first position in that batch of 38 officers. He served in the Indian Air Force for 32 years after which he took pre-mature retirement in 1991. During his tenure, he participated in the 1962 Indo-China war, 1965 Indo – Pak war, and 1971 Indo – Pak war.
An Interview with Author M.K. Devidasan – Marriage in Heaven: A Social Drama
Akhila Saroha: “Marriage in Heaven: A Social Drama” comes across as a striking creation from your pen. Did you have plans to write it from the beginning, or was it an idea that struck you later?
M.K. Devidasan: The idea stuck to my mind later.
Akhila Saroha: Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind your book, “Marriage in Heaven: A Social Drama”?
M.K. Devidasan: After retirement from the Indian Air Force as a Wing Commander I came across a case where one of my known officers of the same rank sought the help of a resort occupied by many retirees from very respectable higher ranks in various levels of the society. Being a writer with aspirations to transcribe the realities most apt to the readers, I wrote this book with high revelations to make the reader realize the weak links in our existing society where the elders can expect only neglect once the most difficult bridge in the achievement of objective is crossed.
Akhila Saroha: How did you plan to write “Marriage in Heaven: A Social Drama” since it makes use of multiple styles of writing in the form of fiction?
M.K. Devidasan: The purpose to paint on a wider canvas is to make an appraisal to the general public though aware of the dwindling potential of readership on the onset of other wider spectrum of social media ecosystem most loved by the people especially the younger spectrum of the present generation, I was enthused by my friends to put down my feelings and observations in a nutshell in the form of a novel for the wider reach to showcase the societal drawback as it prevailed today.
Akhila Saroha: Can you discuss the themes and messages you wanted to convey in your book? Did “Marriage in Heaven: A Social Drama” give you plenty of space to express all your ideas? Or would they follow in your upcoming publications?
M.K. Devidasan: The society has chanegd a lot. The respect given to the elders is alarmingly dwindling with higher education and the availability of a wider knowledge spectrum with the advent of the internet. Social networks make a wider reach with the click of a finger, and feelings of superiority have enhanced among them beyond anyone’s imagination. The parents’ efforts get the least reward as their children consider that as part of their bound duty to put them on the epitome of career.
Akhila Saroha: “Marriage in Heaven: A Social Drama” extends its base to a universal form since it relates to current events or larger societal issues. Do you agree with this?
M.K. Devidasan: Yes. That is the reason I thought to paint the realities of the present day on a wider canvas.
Akhila Saroha: Can you discuss your writing process and how you approached structuring the stories in “Marriage in Heaven: A Social Drama”? Did it require frequent revisions?
M.K. Devidasan: I had in my mind a story based on a real experience of one of my well-known people. Hence weaving the thread was comparatively easier as every pint kept regurgitating with ease to transcribe in words.
