Dr. Vinayak Subramaniam is an ENT Specialist in the government set-up in Karnataka. He has a flair for doing head and neck cases in his professional duties as an ENT surgeon. He likes music and is now learning the flute and keyboard. He has recently come out with the book Subbu Goes Surfing On The Covid Waves: To Stay Negative By Being Positive, which tells about his first-hand experiences of the coronavirus pandemic.

I chat with him about his book Subbu Goes Surfing On The Covid Waves, what inspired him to write this book, book recommendations, and much more.

Hello, Dr. Vinayak! Tell us a bit about yourself!

I am an ENT specialist and work in the government set-up in Karnataka. I like travelling, and my first book Subbu’s Travelogue is based on my travel experiences, and is a wonderful glimpse of the holiday destinations I have visited with my family. Subbu Goes Surfing On The Covid Waves: To Stay Negative By Being Positive is my second book, telling about my first-hand experiences of this pandemic.

Which authors and books have been writing influences for your books?

The authors who have had an influence on my writing are Robin Cook, John Grisham, and Chetan Bhagat.

If you could only describe your book Subbu Goes Surfing On The Covid Waves: To Stay Negative By Being Positive in five words, what would they be?

The book is – ‘Frank, unbiased, positive, light-hearted, and an easy read’.

Now tell us a little more about the book! What can readers expect?

The book narrates my knowledge and experience of Covid-19. Here, I have mixed information, advice and personal experiences, which have been written beautifully and seamlessly. In the present pandemic, people tend to get carried away by social media and get bogged down due to an overload of confusing news. My book gives an overall first-hand experience of how one can stay away from the negativity that is in the air, and still live life the way it has to be lived with all of its positivity and fullness.

What inspired you to write this book?

As I was at the centre of all the happenings of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in my hospital, being an ENT specialist, the scenario around me, along with how my colleagues handled the situation, inspired me to write this book.

What is the message that you want readers to take away from this book?

Look at the positive aspects of life rather than brooding over the present pandemic.

How have you been coping with the current pandemic and what will be the new normal for you post it?

As this era is the era of the coronavirus, there is no point harping about it. One needs to take care of the basics like donning a mask, social distancing, and taking care of personal hygiene. In the new normal, I will try to live life to its fullest.

Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

I would like to recommend the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles to the readers.

The book ‘Subbu Goes Surfing On The Covid Waves: To Stay Negative By Being Positive’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.