Interviewed at TPS !


Following is my interview with 'The Pakistan Spectator' .. You can choose to read here or at their website @ Sourav C. Pandey's Interview

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?
A 25 year old, love my family and friends, optimist, happy and narcissist, born in Uttar Pradesh, India, studied across the country. MBA working with an MNC, who took up blogging just like that and it all turned out to be one addiction, and today I have two blogs -
1.
…in love with me and life .. the blog which helped me relate to my life more, and taught me to love my self more, gave me some real GOOD friends and is now one inspirable part of being me!
2. Tips, tricks and techniques ! .. The tech-help-blog which has around 1000 odd unique visitors every month and 100+ articles to it’s credit and help on request forums!

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
I hope to refine it over time and I’ll keep working at it. I also look at others writings, their style and it tends to improve my own from time to time.
But probably my best work and insights ended up in conversations and comments on other people’s blogs and forums, rather than on my own blog with the absence of me being able or wanting or trying to promote my blog a little more.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
Every word of appreciation from my readers means a lot to me and having them as real life friends is something nice which has happened to me only because of blogging.
Getting those checks from Google Adsense and Adbrite Inc. stays firm in my memory too.
What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
Stalking every blogger friend, through Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, Gtalk, Yahoo, phone and at times meeting them helps.

If you had to describe life as a blogger in a Twitter message (140 characters) what would you say?
Tweet and we hear each other, writing and reading, no matter what and the freedom to expression is what we enjoy with blogging!
What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
Aman ki Asha, an Indo-Pak media initiative, in print, electronic and social media is one positive use of technology which comes to mind now.
Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
Yes, it does, though it’s more of an individual prerogative, technology acts only as one wake up call to be more responsive towards certain issues.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

The fact it’s original, it’s design, the readers … and as it says; “in love with me and life … with my own reflection.. with my own affection.. with the vision that i see.. doing all i can for me” .. sets it a class apart !!


If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
My optimism !
What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
I live a ‘happiest’ life, where gloom stays back and forgotten J
If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
1. Madrid and other cities in Spain.
2. Winterthur and rest of Switzerland.
3. Kashmir, once every year !
What is your favorite book and why?
A walk to remember – Nicholas Sparks, probably because I could associate and because the name of this novel is something etched deep in my mind.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
Hair, smile and the way they talk to me.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
YES, and they are PAST now!! :D

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
Write and read more, be original, socialize more, be aware of technological advances (SEO, Trackback URL’s, etc) , and even if you write personal topics, do not compromise on associating people with what you write. There are wide range of online advertisers, choose intelligently.
Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
Not necessarily, I took to blogging while doing my MBA .. need I say more !

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
By spreading awareness, clearing misconceptions and delivering messages, which are understood or at least read by people from all over the world.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
Shashi Tharoor – not a blogger, a tweeter… a well known and acknowledged face in Indian politics and is incomparable to the most I read.
Among my friends, Saad Shaikh, Sapna Dandona, Sreya Ghosh, Indian Pundit, and all the bloggers I know are few I enjoy reading because of their humor and more because I know the now J

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
What if .. in life !! .. read it to find out !

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
Pakistan’s people are as human as of any other country, with their own beliefs, joys, reactions and sorrows. As a country though it could have been at a much better position – financially or economically, had it not been so disturbed politically and because of anti-social elements. Scopes and opportunities are the things they should build on to.
Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
Not much of a poet, I could hardly rhyme .. the way some bloggers express their mind through only a few lines is astonishing.
What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
Developed is done-and-over, past tense while developing is an on going, present/future continuous tense. Developing is growth and the potential; the desire to achieve and a developing country gets defined as such !
What is the future of blogging?
There will be a day soon, when people go to toilet or shave, and post it on their blog. The future is bright; blogs will have everything and anything to offer.
You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
A lot, developed both personally and professionally by interacting with people from different spheres, countries, societies. I have a better and more informed professional network and a large group of friends who are always there to advice/criticize me ! In some ways blogging has earned me some good enemies too, those who know me know them too ;)

What are your future plans?
I live in ‘The Present’, but for the future I plan to live more happily :D

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
A well informed forum, a place where you can speak your mind, where you get to know like and unlike minded people and this website serves as one link to people from across continents, whether Asians, American, European or anyone, we all can contribute and share our opinions. Another attempt to get the racers in us to stop and breathe .. Thank you TPS for honoring me :) ! 

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19 people read and said:

Anonymous said...

wow you remembered your interview quite vividly.but frankly i didn't understood what was the interview about.Were you guys only talking about you blogging career or something else or perhaps thats beause i have no idea what do u mean by TPS. Stil you have great writing skills thats for sure.

Aeish said...

Awesome! :D

Mads said...

commented on the interview link tooo...
nice interview and its very you :P
congrats che :D

Crazy Blogger said...

good!

S said...

Sandesh .. Thanks for the comment :)
And no bro, I don't have to really remember the interview, it was taken online and was written ! And took the interview coz I was chosen to, not coz of some blogging giant or anything !

And thanks for the praise .. I appreciate that :)


Aeish .. Yeah .. yeah :D

S said...

Mads .. Thank you and I have read your interview on their site too :D
And yeah, it was me, and it has to be me :P
Thank you 'che' ;)

Thanks Manjari !

Saad Shaikh said...

Awesome Sirji!

I liked your answers very much. :) I wish I had thought of such answers while answering my interview.. :P

I loved your answer on future of blogging.. :D

Congrats bhidu.. Celeb log ka interview horela hai aaj kal.. ;)

Good answers.. keep it up(upmost :P).. :D

Aeish said...

:P

vineet said...

cool man...it rox..i wil take a note

Neha said...

you were diplomatic! :P

:)

And then she cribbed some more... said...

:)

Rahil said...

need to cram these answers in case i get such an interview. perfect answers to some questions !!

preeti said...

AILA ....koi to bada famous ho gaya hai ;):D :P
There could have been thousands of approach to these questions ...but i find your's as worth appreciating :)
The need of the hour is to think and see beyond the boundaries of cultures n religion ...and thats what you have done… ..with excellence :)
Your optimism is the quality that makes you stand out of the crowd :)
Keep going …and making ME proud :D

S said...

Aeish .. I know why u did this :P :P

Thanks Sara :))

Thanks Vineet :)

Neha .. You know I was, I had better ans too, but ;)

Ivy .. :)

Rahil .. Don't cram, just copy paste, if u like 'em so much :P

S said...

AILA :D :D :D
Thank you, Thank you .. appreciation is mostly what I'm always expecting from you :)
As I told you, you said it best, I'm trying to cross those boundaries :)
And your sweetness inspires me to be more optimistic :) :)

Thank you .. and I know I'll be a proud Engineer brother too :D :D

Americanising Desi said...

wonderful :)

I really do recall my TPS interview now... was nothing compared to this :)

wonderful!

Sathish Chandrasekaran (சதீஷ் சந்திரசேகரன்) said...

hmmm ...
liked the way u answered the questions :)
bot i skipped certain questions coz of the length of the post :D

anyways keep blogging
cheers !!!

Timeless Memories - My Bygone ! said...

Loved the way u answered the questions, it reflected ur attitude, n i should say, very diplomatic...
wt a way to go dear...!

HaRy!! said...

kya Sourav... abhi interviews... aur next plan kya? politics ? he he.. wats yur symbol... my vote for yu