Smita Das Jain

What was your favorite book as a child?

As a child, I was captivated by the Nancy Drew series. The adventures of a sharp, independent girl detective solving mysteries with courage and intelligence resonated deeply with me. Nancy wasn’t just about puzzles and suspense; she represented confidence, curiosity, and resilience at a time when female characters in fiction were often sidelined. Those stories nurtured my imagination and opened my eyes to the power of words to transport readers into different worlds. Looking back, I realise that Nancy Drew shaped both my reading choices and my outlook on independence. They planted the seeds of self-expression and storytelling, long before I began to write my own stories.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

I started writing creatively as a way to express myself. I have always been an avid reader, and reading naturally flowed into writing. Stories have been my companions from childhood. They offered both escape and understanding. Writing became a way for me to process my thoughts, give shape to emotions, and share perspectives that might resonate with others. At first, it was simply about joy: the joy of putting words on paper, of weaving characters and scenes, of creating worlds from imagination. Over time, it also became a responsibility. Responsibility to contribute to the world of stories that had given me so much. Writing allows me to connect deeply with readers, spark reflection, and create moments of recognition where they might say, “Yes, that’s how I feel too.”

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

The most thrilling experience of my life was becoming a mother. I have travelled, taken risks, and embraced challenges in my personal and professional life, but nothing comes close to the mix of awe, fear, joy, and responsibility that comes with holding your child for the first time. It was not just an event but an ongoing journey that continues to shape me every day. Motherhood taught me resilience, patience, and unconditional love, qualities that no classroom or boardroom could fully instil. It is adventurous because no two days are the same, and thrilling because it constantly pushes me beyond my comfort zone. Among all milestones I’ve crossed, motherhood remains the most transformative and defining adventure of my life.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

No, I don’t listen to music while reading or writing. Both activities require my complete attention, and multitasking reduces the depth of focus I bring to them. Reading, for me, is about immersing myself fully in another world, and writing demands clarity of thought and precision in expression. Music, though beautiful, creates a parallel stream of emotion that distracts me from either absorbing words as a reader or crafting them as a writer. I prefer silence when I write or read. It allows the story, characters, and ideas to flow freely without interference. That quiet concentration is what makes the experience so rewarding and meaningful for me.