Haven’t we all, at some point in time, pondered over the mysteries of the Universe? Haven’t there been outcomes for instances that have blurred the lines between science and belief? Is there indeed more to life than what meets the eye? Well, author Kanchan Joshi’s debut novel The Tenth Avatar is inspired by a similar train of thoughts. The book essays the journey of an ancient warrior-yogi and a modern-day scientist who work together to explore the meaning of life and the universe in a fast-paced adventure.
Armed with a Ph.D in chemical engineering from the University of California, Kanchan was always a science buff. But he was also exposed to ancient history, mythology and spirituality. “I was born and raised in India and surrounded by history and mythology, I was trained as a scientist and experienced the academic rigour in the US. As a result, when I wrote the book, I approached the question about life and universe from both an intuitive and experiential side as well as an analytical, logical side,” shares Kanchan, adding, “The book explores the question of blending ancient with the modern in the form of a fast-paced adventure that has a lot of action as well as romance.”
So, how did the plunge into writing happen? He says, “I’ve always used writing as a tool to jot down my thoughts and questions. I was filled with questions about everything — the gods, the stories that I heard, the human body, the stars, science, everything.” Sheer curiosity and a push from acquaintances led to him writing the book. The book is a wholesome read with elements of romance and humour thrown in. About his expectations from the book, Kanchan is clear. “This is an experimental science and history based adventure about life and universe. I hope people who pick this book up are inspired to think beyond what’s given to them — through education or popular reports.”
Having put his exploration cap on, Kanchan is looking forward to a future that involves more writing. “I would continue to write, do more science, explore and have fun,” he signs off.
