Introduction:
(BIZCREATOR MEMBER)
In our ongoing interview series featuring remarkable voices who blend diverse worlds of work and creativity, we sit down with Sushil Kumar Gochhayat, an engineer at NALCO and the author of novels and poetry collections that have touched countless hearts. Through his dual life, he shows us that precision and passion can coexist.
Q1. Balancing Engineering & Poetry
Q: As someone who balances a demanding role at NALCO with a flourishing literary journey, how do you switch between the precision of engineering and the vulnerability of poetry?
A: “In my office at NALCO, my mind works with discipline and logic. But when I write, I allow my heart to guide me. For me, both are not separate—engineering gives me focus and writing gives me feelings. One is my duty, the other is my breath.”
Q2. Writing from Lived Emotions
Q: You’ve said you don’t write fiction for its own sake but channel lived emotions into your work. How do you decide which personal moments deserve to be transformed into literature?
A: “I don’t sit to ‘choose’ stories. Some emotions stay with me so strongly that they want to come out as words. My novel She Is Not My Ex came from such feelings—love through letters that never met, because dignity and respect were more important. Hirakhand Express Seat No. A-13 also came from a deep thought—that love can travel with us silently, even without touch or meeting. My pen moves only when my heart cannot stay silent.”
Q3. Writing in English vs. Odia
Q: Your works span across English and Odia, from novels to poetry. How does language shape the emotional tone of your storytelling? Do you feel differently when writing in Odia versus English?
A: “Yes, I feel differently. When I write in English, I feel I am speaking to the whole world. When I write in Odia, it feels like I am speaking to my own soul and soil. English takes my words far, but Odia gives them roots. Both languages carry my heart in different ways.”
Q4. Literature in a Fast World
Q: In today’s fast-paced world where attention spans are shrinking, what role do you believe poetry and novels still play in helping people pause and reflect?
A: “Today, people run so fast that they forget to pause. Poetry and novels are like a soft hand telling us to stop and feel. They remind us that life is not only about speed, but also about emotions. Through Monalisa and Senorita, I tried to create that pause—where someone may stop, breathe and feel love or pain again.”
Q5. The Legacy of Words
Q: If you could leave readers with one enduring thought or feeling through your body of work, what would you want it to be?
A: “I want readers to remember one thing—love with dignity, live with respect. I love the past, but I carry it into my present and future without hurting anyone’s honor. Emotions are not weakness; they are strength. If my words can leave this truth in someone’s heart, my journey as a writer is complete.”
Through his dual life as an engineer and poet, Sushil Kumar Gochhayat reminds us that emotions and intellect are not opposites—they are partners in shaping meaningful lives. His words offer solace, strength, and the courage to honor love and respect above all.
Want to explore more voices like Sushil’s? Stay tuned for our next guest interview.
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