Interview with Jasveer Singh Dangi
Author of The Essence Of Ganga - The Story of Mandakini
Jasveer Singh Dangi embodies a diverse tapestry of talents—author, podcast host, behavioral trainer, and esteemed health and safety professional hailing from Canada. What began as an unforeseen journey into writing in 2018 with his poignant childhood memoir, Version One and a Half (Version 1 ½), swiftly burgeoned into a prolific career marked by nine published books and two collaborative works.
He recently started his journey in the world of cinema as a Producer of a short film titled ‘Yes Sir’. The film, themed around caste bias, has been exceptionally well-received and featured in over twenty film festivals worldwide. It was third runner-up at the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards (DPIFF), 2024, in the Best Short Film category.
Despite his self-professed label as an accidental author, Jasveer’s literary prowess has garnered widespread acclaim, punctuated by a string of accolades and recognition.
- His magnum opus, The Hunter Genesis – Book 1, found its place among the coveted list of summer must-reads by esteemed platforms like ANI Asia, Jio News, and Zee5.
- He was featured in the list of Top 19 most unique writers of 2023 by INKZOID Foundation.
- He was recognized as the author of the Year in Fiction and Non-Fiction category by Ukiyoto Publishing for his book Ensemble – A collection of short stories and essays.
- Hailed as one of the 10 Indian Authors Redefining Modern Literature by Kathmandu Tribune in January, 2020.
- He was recognized by Ne8X with Sahitya Kosh Samman Award in Literature.
- In 2019, Literature Light recognized him as one of the top 100 debut authors for his debut book, Version One and a Half (Version 1 ½).
- He was named as the ‘Author of the Fest’ at the Writing Wizards Fest 2020 for his book, Double One Zero (110) - Out of the shadows. The Writing Wizards Fest is an initiative by The Twilight of Poem (www. twilightofpoem.in).
Beyond the realms of writing, he’s earned commendations for his contributions to health and safety training, further cementing his multifaceted expertise. In 2018, he was awarded by IISSM for his contributions towards the Health and Safety Training domain.
Jasveer loves the outdoors and is a big movie buff, which is quite evident given the use of quotes and songs from movies at strategic places in all his books. He is an avid observer of his surroundings and uses characters and instances from everyday situations for his stories. His works include:
- The Hunter Genesis - Whatever it is, wherever it is, he will find it (Book 1 of the Hunter series),
- The Essence of Ganga – The Story of Mandakini,
- Ensemble – A collection of short stories and essays,
- The Incredible Mr. Sweets – A coming-of-age story of an ex-con who finds his calling in life through music,
- Shahenshah – The story of Shrenik Shah, the cancer conqueror,
- The Metro-Maniac Chronicles - Through the eyes of an Obsessive-Compulsive Metro-Maniac,
- Double One Zero (110) – Out of the Shadows,
- Diary from Heaven - Confessions of an Eternal Junkie,
- Version One and a Half (Version 1 ½) - A glimpse of India in the ‘80s,
- Concealed Words (Co-Author), and
- Life – A culmination of stories (Co-Author).
He also shares his thoughts on www.storymirror.com, www. medium.com, www.merrative.com, #jasveersinghdangi (Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook). His podcast is available on his website - www.jasveersinghdangi.com, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and Spotify.
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How would you describe The Essence Of Ganga to a new reader?
- ‘The Essence of Ganga’ is not just a biography but a way to narrate what happens when you show trust in the supreme power and how it brings the universe together to make things happen for you. This book showcases how faith can lead to miracles and how these miracles can be further used to help others. Anybody can be successful in life, but how you act towards society when you reach the top will decide if your life is meaningful or not. Very few people choose to give back to the universe when they are successful. The majority would just aspire to earn more for their own luxury, but a rare few, such as Mandakini, will spend their life making a difference in the lives of others.
What was the inspiration behind The Essence Of Ganga ?
- I have always loved the mountains and when Mandakini mentioned about Rishikesh I felt attracted towards her story. The more she narrated, the more and more I felt hooked on to the concept.
Which authors do you admire? How have they influenced your writing style?
- Chetan Bhagat is my favourite author. I like it the way he uses real life places & the detailed description he uses in his stories.
Can you tell us a little about the locations in your book?
- Majority of the story has been narrated with Rishikesh as the backdrop. Rishikesh is a city in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River. Rishikesh has been described as the gateway to heaven in ancient Hindu scriptures and is considered holy by the Hindus.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
- Just do it. Don't be scared of the reviews. If you have a niche story and you feel that its engaging, then go ahead & publish it.
What's your writing process?
- I can write anywhere, anytime. I get ideas from everyday situations so my stories have a lot of references to real people and places
Which character in The Essence Of Ganga has had the greatest impact on readers?
- The Essence Of Ganga is Mandakini Pawar's story but the most powerful character of this book is not her but the river Ganga. River Ganga has been providing life sustaining resources to millions in the Indian sub-continent for many thousand years and is truly inspirational.
How have readers responded to The Essence Of Ganga'?
- The response has been amazing and there have been many positive reviews for the book.
"The book is like a Vibgyor… playing through all the seven colours of life - a candid and stark tale of a Professional, Social Entrepreneur, Wife, Mother and most importantly an explorer into the unknown realms of Spirituality. It makes you believe in Divine intervention, fall in love with Rishikesh and the Himalayas, and takes you higher both in matter and Spirit."
- Alankrita Banerjee Founder - PANKH , NGO, Provides Free Education to 1000 underprivileged Children
Where next? What are you working on now?
- My next is an action/adventure fiction story tentatively titled The Hunter Genesis Part 1
