Celebrating International Author's Day, 2016!

Sometimes, I think what my life would have been if my mother had not introduced me to books when I was a child. I remember how I was upset after a fight with my friends and complained to my mom that no one is talking to me at school. That was the moment when my mom introduced me to the enchanting world of books, saying that they would always be with me in every place and situation.

So true! Books, the most loyal, available and wise companion that a human being can ever get. I cannot even think of spending a day without reading a book.

When I am travelling, you can always find me with a book in my hand. I love travel books that add fuel to my wanderlust spirit and makes me dream of all the beautiful places in the world.

When I am going through a rough time and totally unable to figure out things in my life, books provide me the perfect escape to a fictitious world. I often read thrillers and romantic mysteries when I need an escape.

When I seek solace and motivation, it is again a few special books that can do the magic for me. During those times, I find comfort in those books that I have already read earlier and loved. Books of Paulo Coelho and Robin Sharma always provide me that comfort and inspiration.

Books are such beautiful things that you can also find a friend in the author or the protagonist whom you haven't met in your life. They can perfectly heal your wounds if you only allow them to. I remember that last year in July, I was lost and broken. That was the time I started reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is the true story of author Elizabeth Gilbert, who was lost, broken and dejected at the age of 30. So she embarked on a journey of self-discovery. She started her trip with Italy where she learned the Italian language, then traveled to an ashram in India to find God and finally landed in Bali, Indonesia to find the true meaning of her life.

I read the book for two months and when I finished it, I felt healed and rejuvenated. I found a friend in Elizabeth Gilbert as I could relate so much to her emotions. I also gained a lot of wisdom from the book.

Books let you understand love, pain, heartbreaks, friendships, bonding, faith and spirituality in a deeper way. They assure you that you are not alone in this. They make you understand people and life better. Every time I read poems of Rabindranath Tagore, Rumi, Pablo Neruda and Gulzar, I gather some new meaning to the dimensions of life.

There are many people who haven't discovered the pleasure of reading and therefore, they don't read. I feel really lucky to have discovered this pleasure at a very early age.

Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.

Happy International Author's Day to all the wonderful authors out there! You make our lives beautiful and make me feel blessed to be an author in this lifetime.

For the International Author's Day Giveaway, I am giving away 3 e-copies of my Poetry Book "The Heart Listens to No One". 

You need to participate in the simple Rafflecopter giveaway. The names of the winners will be announced on 19th July here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's an excerpt from one of the poems in the book.

This wonderful event is hosted by Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay