How can you turn a privileged upbringing into a mechanism for effecting change? Aritra Sarkar, CEO of Wedoria Technologies, former Vice president and Strategist at ABP Pvt Ltd, one of India’s premier media conglomerates, is doing just that.
Aritra’s family runs the ABP group. He is now an author-philosopher and a technologist by training.
Aritra has just written 'Goliath of Shenzhen,' the world's first 'dual-facing' novel. It is a book with two front covers. Read from one end, it's in prose. Flip it around, and the same story is told as a graphic novel. Set in contemporary China, it is about the battle between a village and the Chinese Army, hell-bent on its eviction and raises the question of how to bring about change the right way.
Early Life
Aritra Sarkar attended the St. Xavier's Collegiate School in Calcutta where he says he “Received a strict; albeit; secular education from European Jesuit priests. I used to read a lot; particularly comic books such as Amar Chitra Katha, Marvel/DC.” He also devoured science fiction and fantasy stories by HG Wells, Arthur C Clarke, and Tolkien etc. Additionally, Aritra loved anti-establishment fiction popularised by George Orwell, Kafka and the French existentialists.
Aritra was different to his peers. “More idealistic and averse to authority.” He also sought change at all levels.
His grandmother exposed him early to spirituality through Swami Vivekananda and Shri Ramkrishna. “I used to go to Belur and Sarada Math where I interacted with the swamis and attended Sunday school,” he says.
Aritra also went with his family to Shantiniketan, Tagore's haven, every winter. While there, he played cricket and carom with the sons of farmers and working classes, which helped shape his belief i, and desire for, equal opportunity.
Heir to the Family Business.
Aritra Sarkar was a marketing strategist at the ABP Group, where he ran and created different business units. He developed the award-winning ABP One, a marketing consultancy service for the eastern region.
Developing a Writing Career
Aritra has always felt stifled by people in positions of authority. Particularly when he worked at Dow Jones; his first professional experience. It set him on a path to seek change in a cerebral manner.
Aritra Sarkar turned to writing. “I kept a diary where I penned basic questions and answers.” This led to more complex questions, such as, “How to bring about change the right way?” To address this, Aritra decided to create a story. Here he shows that change can come from the wisdom and ideas of the masses, instead of traditional hierarchies.
“I faced a fresh challenge. How to remain objective while answering the question? To remove all biases I chose a setting that was alien to me; China.”
It took Aritra a year to write and edit. Then, another year for graphics and post-production. He decided to start his own publishing label, a companion business to his digital venture. It would focus on literature that would shape society. The story was published under the banner of Wedoria Chronicles.
Maintaining a writing discipline
The hardest thing for many writers is creating a structure in their daily schedule to write. Without an immediate deadline it can be tough.
Aritra writes late in the day. “I write at night, winding down my day. After my work-out, dinner and channel-surfing. After the cries of street dogs and birds subside.” He says that the only things that he hears are the silent voices in people's dreams.
Creating a double facing novel
“The story was a simple narrative that didn't require too many sub-plots, detours or inner sequences. The story arc is like a Western film; such as 'High Noon' or 'Magnificent Seven' where a community fights for its survival against a sinister force. 'Goliath of Shenzhen' adds fantasy, technology and crowd-sourcing.
Even a clumsy fellow like me managed to stay close to the plot. Once the graphic artist was hired, I needed an editor to manage the show. Thankfully, I had someone capable on my team.”
How would Aritra Sarkar go about changing China?
“Change is needed everywhere. But, possibly, there's an urgency about it in China. This is because the country has grown too fast in too short a time, disregarding various norms of social justice and environmental protection. It's only a matter of time before the sins of the past revisit themselves. So China should look on this book as a cautionary tale.
In China, the government should focus on improving people's happiness; instead of trying to control. It should enhance the freedom of its citizens. First, by holding democratic elections. Then, by loosening restrictions on business and enterprise. And, finally, by providing liberty to free expression; mobility; assembly and consumption.”
