1. Dr. Anand, while most writers focus on fiction, you have delved into poetry, even crafting epics. What drives this choice?
No doubt, this is the age of fiction and major awards go to fiction writers, but in my case, writing poetry has been a matter of faith. I had an innate love for dramatic poetry. So, it came naturally to me. Moreover, when a writer starts writing an epic, it is customary that he seeks inspiration from the Muse. Epics cannot be written unless an author is inspired by the Muse to write on a topic of great significance for mankind. In my case also, it was a call from the above, which could not be resisted. Most of these books have mythical or neo-mythological characters where eastern and western myths come together. Lustus is also a neo-mythological character.
2. Reflecting on your extensive career, what milestones have you achieved and what goals remain to be accomplished?
Literature is a life-long commitment with writers. I started writing in 1986 and now, in a career spanning 45 years, I have authored 161 plus books, of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and spirituality. My most phenomenal work is Lustus: The Prince of Darkness, an epic, which is in the syllabus of a north Indian University. I have authored 9 epics [including Mahakaal Trilogy], and also developed the theory of Biotext. Five of my books have been translated into Persian and Lustus has been translated into Bengali and Persian both.. My poetry has been translated into twenty world languages. I have founded International Academy of Ethics, which is a precursor of the University of Ethics and organized 5 World Poetry Conferences. In future, I wish we are able to establish the University of Ethics, which will be a unique world organization espousing the cause of morality, goodness and well being of humanity.
3. Winning the International Award Charter of Morava is asignificant achievement. How does it resonate with your literary journey?
The Serbian Writers Association, Belgrade, conferred on me the Award Charter of Morava, and engraved my name on the Poets’ Rock in Serbia during the 60th Belgrade International Writers Meeting held in Oct 2023. Only Sh. Rabindra Nath Tagore was given this honour in 1926 after he got Nobel Prize. I was given Honorary Membership of the Serbian Writers Association, which is an honour in itself. In my opinion, this international award outweighs so many national or international awards. Prior to this, I have received the Franz Kafka Award [Ukraine, Germany and Check Republic] Maxim Gorkhy Award [Russia] and Art4Life Lifetime Achievement Award, US. As a writer, I believe in steady work in the field of creativity. The redemption of a poet lies in creating good literature, not in how many awards he has won. Your recent accolade the Doctor of Philosophy Honoris Causa from UEM, Jaipur, speaks volumes. What led to this recognition?
The occasion was the 9th Convocation and the the Academic Council of the University of Engineering and Management, Jaipur, decided to confer the Doctor of Philosophy [Honoris Causa] on me, in view of my extraordinary contribution to World Literature, Poetry and Society at large. The University authorities were impressed by my literary work in the field of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and spirituality. I received the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Panjab University in 2000.