Dr. Sunil Srinivasan is a Consultant Pediatrician, practicing in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. He was the President of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Tamil Nadu in 2018, and has numerous academic awards and publications to his credit. He is also an International Tai Chi Instructor, and is also a certified Happiness Coach, and has conducted many Happiness workshops in India and USA. He is an avid trekker, having trekked in the Himalayas and Tibet many times. He has also completed writing three novels and has embarked upon writing his fourth. He has recently come out with the book Searching for Aaran, which is a thriller about solving a random abduction, with ample sprinkling of the genres of history and travelogue.

I chat with the author about his book Searching for Aaran, how the book came to be, the research process that the book entailed, book recommendations, and much more.

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

I am a Consultant Paediatrician practicing in Trichy, Tamil Nadu for the past 32 years. I am also an International Tai Chi Instructor as well as a Happiness Coach. I am also a Meditator, amateur Philosopher, and Trekker. A motivational speaker too, I have given talks in various places on Health and Happiness.

Which authors and books were your early formative influences?

Two authors have had the greatest influence on me. One is Peter Matthiessen and the other is Colin Thubron. I have been captivated by their writing style and the amount of feeling and passion that they bring to their writing. John Grisham and Frederick Forsyth have been instrumental in shaping my style of simple and clear writing.

How would you describe your book Searching for Aaran in one sentence?

Our past is very important to what is happening to us in the present and no encounter is trivial.

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

Angel and Aramudan are vacationing in Germany, when their son goes missing. There are absolutely no clues. The police conclude that it is a difficult-to-solve random abduction. However there are connections made almost a century ago, which brings hope to the parents. They get unexpected help from Hong Kong and Andaman Islands.

This book is part history, part travelogue, and part thriller.

What inspired you to write this novel?

I was going through some reports on Nazi Concentration camps during World War II, and I was surprised to learn that there were quite a few Chinese in those camps. Since I learnt Tai Chi from an authentic Chinese Tai Chi Master, I was wondering how a real master would have reacted to his imprisonment. Against this backdrop, I wanted to create an abduction novel with a difference.

What was the research process like?

For three months, I did intense research on Nazi concentration camps, World War II, German history, Cultural Revolution in China, Police organization and hierarchy in Germany and China, Orchestra in Hamburg, and more importantly about container ships and sea voyages.

Is there a scene, element, or character you really enjoyed creating and writing?

The sea voyage was my most memorable creation, and I was literally travelling mentally from one corner of the world to another. My research was hampered by the fact that I couldn’t personally visit a container ship because of the Covid restrictions. I took the help of a seasoned ship captain to avoid making gross errors. I have acknowledged the help of Captain Leon Maben in my novel.

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

I had closed my hospital for one year because of Covid. I had plenty of time to research and write this novel, which is my second novel. I am so hooked up by writing that I have already completed my third novel, which is awaiting publication. I am well into my fourth novel.

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

As a part of my research into Quantum Physics for my fourth novel, I am thoroughly enjoying a book called The God Equation by Michio Kaku.

The book ‘Searching for Aaran’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.