Devika Das is an award-winning author and actor. She pursues her passion for writing and theatre in Hyderabad. Her title ‘The Mind Game’ is a national bestseller and is now available at bookstores in London. She has recently published ‘Meghna’ a Hindi short story with Blue Rose Publishers. She has won the National Award for short films Waterman and The Silent Voice directed by Anshul Sinha. She has been invited as a Speaker for many national literary festivals, TED Circles and also judged several literary competitions organized by schools and colleges. Currently, she is working as a Content Strategist for an IT Company in Hyderabad.
Akhila Saroha: I would like to begin by congratulating you on the publication of “The Mind Game.” How has the response to the book been so far?
Devika Das: The book was published in 2018. Since then, it has been well-accepted by the readers
Akhila Saroha: What led to the idea of writing “The Mind Game”? Were there any events that inspired the work?
Devika Das: Talking about mental health is a taboo. I want people to express themselves freely without any hesitation as suppressed emotions lead to nervous breakdowns. It is high time we become a healthy society.
Akhila Saroha: How easy or difficult was it for you to write on a subject that held relevance for all and also remain objective about them in “The Mind Game”?
Devika Das: I wanted the book to be read by all age groups as each and every individual is instrumental in bringing a societal change.
Akhila Saroha: What are your views about present-day writing? Do you think it does complete justice in depicting human nature in the light of “The Mind Game”?
Devika Das: Each writer has a unique style and a message they want to communicate. There is a long way to go. But, yes I will congratulate the writers who have voiced their opinions on difficult topics like rape, societal injustices, casteism etc. Hope one day the society will mature that we don’t need books to teach us about seeing and raising our voice against societal bias.
Akhila Saroha: “The Mind Game” shows the uniqueness of your style of writing. Are there any authors that you enjoy reading or any books which are your favorites?
Devika Das: I love reading Paulo Coelho, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Neil Gaiman, Ruskin Bond, R K Narayan to name a few. The list is long. I haven’t missed even a single book of the authors I have mentioned.
Akhila Saroha: How would you categorize “The Mind Game” as its appeal seems to be to a broad audience?
Devika Das: It is a self-help guide which make the reader aware about importance of emotional intelligence.
Akhila Saroha: “The Mind Game” has given a powerful introduction to your potential as a writer. Can the readers expect more from you in the future? Please share about your future projects.
Devika Das: Yes. I will continue writing and publishing. I have recently published a Hindi short story titled ‘Meghna’. It is getting a favourable response.
Akhila Saroha: What is the story behind the title of your work, “The Mind Game”?
Devika Das: I thought people should start talking about the core issues which bother them. We often are presented with circumstances in life where we realise that we are living somebody else’s dream rather than ours. We sacrifice our joys, our happiness to fulfil somebody else’s dreams and wishes. This is not right. People should realise the importance of self-love as well as the fact that self love is not ego. Be kind to yourself is a message I want to tell people through this book.
Akhila Saroha: How easy or difficult was it for you to write on something as complex as human emotions and remain objective and concise about them at the same time in “The Mind Game”?
Devika Das: It was difficult as I did not want it to be a personal narrative and I wanted to maintain a general tone which will be applicable for all. I wanted to present an objective and generic view on this subject.
Akhila Saroha: In the present time, books featuring the subject of “The Mind Game” do not find much mention. What, according to you, could be the possible reason for that?
Devika Das: As I said, talking about mental health is a taboo. We don’t realise when we are emotionally hurt and we do not find a space to express ourselves freely. We do not acknowledge our emotions. I wish and hope that one day we will live our lives to the fullest.
Akhila Saroha: If you were to describe your book “The Mind Game” in a few words without giving any spoilers, what would those words be?
Devika Das: A Guide To Find The Real YOU
Akhila Saroha: What advice would you give to budding writers who may be planning to write in the same genre as “The Mind Game”?
Devika Das: Research is very important. Non-fiction relies more on facts rather than fiction. Please be thorough in your research and try to explain the topics in layman terms which will appeal to readers of all age groups. For this, you need to understand the subject first.
Akhila Saroha: Thank you very much for sparing your time. I look forward to reading more books from you in the future. All the best.
Devika Das: Thank you for a wonderful interview. Wishing you success and growth in forthcoming years. Keep up the good work 🙂
Creative writing liberates her and is a medium that allows her to reveal her true SELF. Within few years into book publishing, her literary works have also received critical acclaim through several award nominations and book launch events in several cities of India.
