Publisher's Synopsis
"Sleepless Nights Scribbling" is a collection of short stories and essays written over a period of ten years. It is a time-capsule, capturing the desperate attempt of a young writer maneuvering the marshes of depression, young-adulthood, identity, writer's block, loneliness and the vicissitudes of a nation undergoing change to keep the spark of creativity alive. The pieces collected in this book refer to social mores, taboo issues, cultural conflicts and experiences that are universal but also often more pertinent to young people in India during the last decade and a half. "Naeem", for example, is a short story based on real events about the abhorrent practice of Bachcha Baazi in certain parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, while the essay "Honour, and Other Lies" dissects the alarming trend of conservatism and violence in the recently prominent stream of Hinduism masquerading under the term "Hindutva". These short pieces that make up the collection are perfect for waiting rooms, commutes and other such opportunities that require short reads and aim to question, challenge, puzzle as well as entertain the reader.
