Dubai kid Pavithra Ramesh shines as first-time author

As someone who grew up in Dubai and then shifted to India to pursue a college education, I can completely relate to 20-year-old author Pavithra Ramesh's experiences as an expat with a global outlook. While Dubai does cushion the blows of the outside world for a while (some might call it a cocoon) it also, in a strangely contradictory manner, makes you strong enough to deal with life outside its confines. Pavithra, who completed Grade 12 in Dubai and is currently studying for an MBA degree in Bengaluru, India, spoke to City Times about how Dubai and being a young adult on her own for the first time inspired her first novel No Time To Pause, published in April. She describes the novel as the "narration of a typical college student who decides to stay miles away from her family to get value education. She faces a host of challenges, encounters varied adventures and meets people who leave a tremendous impact on her life."

Was the book based on incidents from your life?
The book has sprinkles of real life incidents but the crux is fiction. The book begins with my journey in a new city but continues with a fictional character whose story and approach to life leave a positive impact on the readers.

Many youngsters who grew up in Dubai face a completely different life when they head back to India for further studies. As someone who has experienced this, do you feel being brought up in Dubai prepares you for life in India?
Completely. Being brought up in Dubai has well prepared me for a life not only in India but anywhere in the world. Dubai has a cosmopolitan culture which ensures that you learn to adapt and mingle with various nationalities and lifestyles.
After all, Dubai has around 200 nationalities working in total harmony. With this global outlook, living in India was much easier than I expected.

What's your happiest memory of Dubai and did the place inspire your book in any way?
Dubai is an inspiring city and I will explain why. I was once forced to shift to Chennai for three years. For unknown reasons, my school scores dwindled. I returned to my old school in Dubai and there was no looking back. I was placed second in school in Grade 12, and first in the class.
The sight of my happy teachers and parents when I scored well was the happiest moment in my life. Yes, Dubai always aspires to be the number one city in the world. That in a way prompted me also to win and shine.

What was the best and worst thing about being away from home as a student in India?
The best part was the kind of experience I gained living alone. I learnt to adjust to a new environment and explore life in a place where I did not know the local language. It made me identify my forte and helped in self-development. The worst part is the homesickness I experienced staying away from my family after being a pampered child. It was Socrates who once said "an unexamined life is not worth living." I seriously think everyone should live alone at least for a short period to have a taste of a purposeful life.

Does your book have a message? What do you want readers to take away from it?
Yes. The message is to let go, look forward and be happy. Scars can be turned into ornaments of beauty if one has the right attitude. Young adults face highs and lows but this should not bog them down.

Whose writing style do you most admire?
I like Preeti Shenoy. Her writing is easy to connect with.

Do you feel the Indian system of education limits creativity in a way?
Sorry to say, yes. The practical approach is lacking and the focus is more on theory. Students are not able to add their own creative inputs. (enid@khaleejtimes.com)