Hi, Jasbir. Thanks for taking out the time to talk with us. Please tell the readers of Indspire Me about yourself.
I am Jasbir Singh. I am from Jammu. I did my schooling from Jammu and right now I’m pursuing my graduation from Lovely Professional University. Apart from writing, I’m running an NGO in Kathmandu, Nepal. I’m very inclined towards social service. I want to open an orphanage and old age home in the future. I like to spend time alone. Sometime I go for travelling alone for months.
Tell us about your new book, ‘I am also a Human’. What inspired you to write it?
This book is based on the struggles and the stories of transgender people. I have showed the true face of the society through this book. Even after seventy years of Independence, many people from this community are treated badly in India. The protagonist of the novel is a transgendered woman named Zeenat. She just wants to be accepted and loved, because she is also a human.
There are few incidents which happened with me in the past which inspired me to write this type of story. I listened to the different stories of transgender people and then I spent two months with them in their community.
After doing a lot of research, I finally decided that I should write about them.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
No, I never wanted to become an author. I wrote shayari and quotes in my school days but I never thought that I would ever write a book. It was my travels to different places and my active engagement in social work, that inspired me along my writing journey.
What has your experience been like while interacting with transgender people?
Initially the interactions were a bit challenging. Due to the bad behaviour which is usually meted out to them, transgender people are cautious of strangers and their intentions. However, with patience and time I made a few friends in the trans community. I won their trust, and this helped me a lot during my research for writing the book.
Tell us about your NGO, Vigilante. What kind of work does it do?
Vigilante is an NGO in Kathmandu, Nepal which works for child education. We generate the funds through different events and then we utilize those funds for the betterment of society. For example, we have made libraries and installed in the Government schools of Jhapa, a district of Kathmandu, Nepal. We also help people at the time of any natural calamities.
How did you feel after you finished writing the book?
I felt good. I never thought that I would complete it within six months. It was challenging for me to write on this topic. Gathering information and stories from the sources was a challenge due to hesitations and preconceived notions.
What do you hope that readers will take away from this book?
When I started writing, I was very clear about the message that I want to send through book. If I can change the thinking of even one person towards transgender individuals, then I’ll be very happy. I have trust on this book because this is not just a book, this is more than a book.
Which is the most inspiring book that you have ever read?
It’s ironic and somewhat embarrassing that I don’t read many books despite being an author. I’m working on changing this habit. If I had to choose one book, then it would ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho.
Editor’s Note: If you liked this interview, please do share it with your friends. To read more such interviews, check out our section on Inspiring Interviews.
