Ektaa Rupani’s SOLO – The Journey Within is a story about a 50-year-old artist Shreya Sen, who sets out on a month-long solo trip all over India. The book speaks about her experiences on the trip, the people she encounters, and the life lessons she learns on her journey. It also speaks about some life-changing events that occur during her trip, and how she overcomes them and emerges a stronger person.
We interviewed Ektaa about her journey with writing this book.
What inspired the idea for your book?
My interest in travel and my strong belief in the empowerment of women, made me want to write this book.
Did you face any challenges while writing this book?
Yes, there were times when I had to make changes in the plot, rewrite parts, edit some parts etc. which were all daunting at that time. However, today I feel that it was all worth it.
Are the characters in your book based on people in your life?
An author is a curious and observant soul who is always on the lookout for inspiration. The characters in the book are a culmination of these observations and of course, some of them are straight out of my imagination.
Which character do you relate to most and why?
Shreya has everything, so to say. She is an accomplished painter herself; is financially comfortable with a well-earning husband, loving children who are grown up and supporting in-laws. Yet, something is missing in her life. Is this restlessness a first-world problem then? Or is this, as one would term it, a mid-life crisis?
What you call mid-life crisis, I would term as ‘coming of age’. For most of us, men or women, life is encased in compartments that we have created for ourselves. We have a set routine of going to work, attending to family, meeting friends etc. How often does any of us wake up in the morning, and decide to explore an unknown street in our city or connect with a stranger out of the blue? Even our conversations are around the same people and the same topics. Also, needs can be classified as material needs, emotional needs etc. And then there is this need to liberate oneself from the shackles of societal roles albeit for a short period of time, and live like a nomad, taking each day as it comes and this is exactly what Shreya is restless for.
Which part of the book was the most fun to write?
The chapter on Kasol was the best to write as there were many interesting facts about the place to write about like the weird traditions of Malana, it being a stoner’s paradise, the Manikaran Gurudwara etc.
Do you have a sequel in mind or any other writing plans in the future?
I certainly plan to continue writing but a sequel is not on the cards yet.
