Unraveling myriad shades of a future teller

Bejan Daruwalla – the laughing Buddha!
Bejan Daruwalla needs no introduction. Being acknowledged as one of the hundred great astrologers in the last 1000 years in the Millennium Book of Prophecy, published by Harper Collins, USA, Bejan is also one of Asia’s most read and largest selling authors. We bring you a detailed account of the life of this man of wisdom, who besides being a successful astrologer is also a professor, poet, writer, thinker, critic…and above all a foreteller of goodness, in a tête-à-tête with Smita Dwivedi.

Bejan Daruwalla is the world’s most famous astrologer, and a regular on television shows worldwide. Besides, he is also a best-selling author and columnist. He has been a professor in English and currently his articles are published in various newspapers like The Sunday Times of India (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata), Telegraph (Kolkata), Navhind Times (Goa), Dell Annual Horoscope 1998 (New York), News India (New York), and Berkeley Communications (London) to name a few. He had been a guest on BBC – Hard Talk India, London; ABC and NBC, USA; Star News, Zee TV, Sony, etc. He was invited to America, the Philippines, London and Pakistan, in fact the only Indian astrologer invited to Pakistan What’s more! On July 16, 2000,

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then prime minster of India, invited him to predict the future of the country.

Q: When and how did you start writing?

Bejan: I was 25 when Asia Publishing House published my first book of poetry called Wheel of Fire. Being a professor of English, expressions came naturally to me. It was in year 1958-59 that this book gave me instant fame as a poet. After sometime, there was a terrific crossroads in my life. I completed a book on short stories and signed a contract with some publishers. But then my publishing company went bankrupt. And so in 1969, I went to Philippines as an astrologer.

Q: What inspires you to be active with your writings even at 80?

Bejan: My favorite word is love…it’s my nature to love and this inspires me to write poems even today. I write poems on Lord Shiva, Ganesha and even a 25-year-old girl. I would have been a painter; I would have painted this whole world with love. Oh! I love to have such a vast canvas.

My faith in Lord Ganesha instills me with all the positive energy. So, there’s always a vibe in me that keeps me on. I spend time on writing regular features and columns, besides working on poetry and astrology books.

Q: How has been your journey as an author?

Bejan: I have written around 200 books, which include three collections of poetry and 150 books on astrology. My satisfaction comes not from writing books but from the fact communicating with the people. This year, my annual forecast book is also translated in Russian. It’s been quite sometime since I started writing forecast books.

I have many books on astrology and so it’s difficult to mention all titles. But one book worth a mention is I am the sky, which won the first prize for Paperback Publishing at the Delhi Book Fair.

I feel lucky to have worked with the finest publishers from all over, which include Orion Publishing, Paperback Publishing, Times Group Books, Hind Pocket Books, Lovdev Publishers, Avon, Ranvir Books – Mumbai, etc.

Q: What can our readers expect next from you?

Bejan: As of now, I am very excited about my latest book 2012 – Will the World End, which is all set to hit the bookshelves. And I am sure it is going to be a wonderful book. I researched and researched a lot before writing this book. I studied science, technology, galaxies, black holes, astronomy, astrology, and so on. And I found out that technology and humanity will marry each other and stay together. To sum up, I would say ‘I care and I dare’. This would definitely be one of my finest books.

I have a great affection for kids. I laugh with them and cry for them. They are world’s most beautiful creation. Even when this whole world will come to an end, the only thing that would remain will be a child. Even the most barbarous God doesn’t have heart to kill a child. I have also completed a book on short stories for children, which is still pending with the publisher

Q: Which was the first book that you read?

Bejan: Oh! That’s Shakespearean literature for sure. I have read a lot of it.

Q: Who are amongst your favourite author/writer?

Bejan: Well, to start with… I like Kamala Suraiyya aka Kamala Das, an Indian writer who wrote in English and Malayalam; Keshav Malik, an Indian poet, critic, arts scholar, and curator; Pritish Nandy, a Indian poet, painter, journalist, politician, media and television personality, animal activist and film producer, to name a few. And my latest favourite is Chetan Bhagat, an Indian author who has written Five Point Someone, One Night @ the Call Center, The 3 Mistakes of My Life and 2 States: The Story of My Marriage.

Q: What else keeps you busy besides astrology and writing – be it hobbies, likes and dislikes?

Bejan: I am fond of listening to music of great classical maestros like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Zubin Mehta, Bismillah Khan, etc. I do listen to contemporary music as well. I love to play with children, and like to observe them for hours. I love to laugh…oh! It’s my favourite one…Hahaha.

Q: What message would you want to give to our readers?

Bejan: Yes, I want to give a Mantra for success and it goes “Observe and Hard Work”. If any one sticks to these two virtues…he/she will get success for sure. And always remember brighter side of a story…no matter how tragic the end was. See good, do good. Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah!