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Journalism of Courage
When 40-year-old Vikram Dutta recounts his days at the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla,Maharashtra,in the 90s,he immediately jumps to the time spent at the academys library,reading and writing. The toils and hardships of his military days had him on his toes,he remembers,but would also allow him to pen down a couple of poems and letters. Now,with 16 years of service with the Air Force and serving as the OSD to President Pratibha Patil,Dutta beams with pride for just one of his achievements his first book written in 1645 ballads,titled Ode to Dignity (Virgin Leaf Books,Rs 245),which came out last month and is available at select physical as well as online bookstores.
A resident of Delhi for five years now,Duttas military background resulted in a simple story of a young lieutenant who goes to break the news of his Majors death to the latters wife. In four-stanza ballads,the book runs through a series of conversations between the two,forging an unlikely,yet compassionate relationship. Purely fiction and completed three years ago,the book,Dutta explains,derives from instances and vignettes from my life. He adds,Being in the Defence,I went through certain perceptions and aspirations,which can be reflected in the young lieutenants character. Ive also used some of the qualities Ive seen in my mother and my wife for the Majors wife. But these are just reflections.
Though the official release of this book is yet to be announced,Dutta is already awaiting the launch of his second piece of fiction,due later this year,titled,The Dark Rainbow by Roli Books,a story set in Mumbai about a relationship that develops between two women when they try to get away from their disgruntled men. Writing gives me an identity that is missing at work. In office,there is no singular identity. But with writing,I set new challenges for myself and the response has been unbelievably good, he says.
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