Your book is called, ‘Lost in Transit.’ Does it have an underlying meaning or value to it? 

It’s a phase of metamorphosis that everybody faces. It’s like you want a lot of respect but you don’t want the responsibility. It’s about some people treating you like a child when you want to be treated like an adult.

What motivated you to write a novel in your early teen years?

I started writing because of my mother. She’s a writer too. Although she writes academic books, I enjoy writing fiction. I used to talk. A lot. And when my parents got sick of it, I was given a pen and told to write about it. To write everything. And that’s how I penned my thoughts down.

Let’s let the story line of your novel be a suspense for the readers. Give us one reason why someone should read ‘Lost in Transit.’ 

You can really feel like you’ve been through it whether you’re an adult or a child. It’s very relatable.

Which is your favorite book by another author that you would recommend others to read? 

‘A Million Little Pieces’ by James Frey. It’s not a classic, but it’s very interesting.

How do you feel about the status and representation of women in literature? 

It makes me happy to see women as protagonists in books. However, women empowerment is rarely talked about even in today’s world.

You’re the topper in your school. What motivates you to be the best at what you do? 

I just like studying in general. I never thought that I would top. I’ve been a very good student in school. It does take hard work and of course, having the will to read and learn. I also have a very good memory that contributes to my grades. Overall, I want to do well, and so I do well.

Would you like to share some of your study strategies with us? 

Always be regular and attentive in class. Don’t miss out on the fun in school. Don’t have regrets about sacrificing for marks. Have a balance between your fun time, co-curricular time and exam time. You should compete with yourself:

“I never thought I can do better than them. I always thought I can do better than this.”

Do you face any challenges/criticism as a topper in your school? If yes, how do you deal with them?

I do face challenges. I’ve been a topper since I was a little child. Now I’ve got used to it. My friends made fun of me sometimes because of how I study all the time. But that’s not true. I did a lot of other things too. The others say nasty things. You know, in India people have a negative association with the word ‘topper.’ I wanted to change that. I think people have a problem with the way I can do so much. This is what they don’t like. 

Which subjects do you like studying the most and why? 

I love English, Psychology and Political Science. These are the subjects most needed in the world today. English for communication. Psychology to interpret the meaning. And political science to understand the way the world functions.

Besides academic excellence, which other extra-curricular fields do you excel in? 

I’m a national level debater. I do MUNs (Model United Nations) too. Also, I was in the press committee because I love to write. I’ve volunteered for animals shelters and worked for NGOs that support differently-abled children too.

Tell us one thing that you love about debating. 

It’s all about the passion. Also, I love debating about Politics.

What are you views on Arnab Goswami as a debater? 

I think he’s really confused about his role of being a moderator. As a debater, I like the points that he makes sometimes. But he’s not moderate in his thoughts or words.

Any tips on how to be a great debater? 

Be confident and know what you’re talking about.

To know more about Dhriti’s workshop on debating and creative writing for children, call on .