PVLF 2025

Interview with Himanshu Ahuja Author “Korero re Life”

Explore Korero re Life with Himanshu Ahuja as he shares insights on life’s struggles, inspiration, and pragmatism through 120 thought-provoking quotes.
on Apr 03, 2025

Frontlist: Korero re Life offers 120 unique quotes about life’s intricacies. What inspired you to compile these thoughts into a book, and how did you balance inspiration and realism in your quotes?

Himanshu: I have always enjoyed writing short-form content, primarily quotes on the philosophy of life. I regularly share these quotes on social media (mainly Instagram on my writing page, inkk_pot). However, writing a book was always my dream. One fine day, I realized that even these quotes could be compiled in a more structured and interactive way to better engage and relate with the audience. And this is how Korero re Life was born.

Balancing inspiration and realism was indeed a tough task. However, what sets this book apart is the fact that it is not just about inspiration but much more than that. Besides motivation, it delves into other critical eccentricities of our lives, namely a heap of harsh realities and the power of pragmatism. There are numerous aspects conveyed through these quotes that we all go through or have gone through but, surprisingly, have never pondered upon in a way that could create an impact on our lives through a changed mindset, leading positively to the way forward.

This book is an attempt to make readers pause, reflect, and immerse themselves in the reality they are a part of! This is how I aimed to balance inspiration and realism.

Frontlist: Korero re Life is divided into three sections, each focusing on life struggles. Could you share the thought process behind this structure?

Himanshu: Korero re Life has three sections: Heap of Harsh Realities, Magic of Motivation, and Power of Pragmatism. While Life’s struggles as a theme cut across each of these sections, not all quotes are focused on struggles. That said, I firmly believe struggles are a pathway to an improved life. Unfortunately, we, as humans, are not very comfortable talking about our struggles and tend to focus more on our glorious times. Most ramifications of our struggles dwell deep within us, creating negative feelings to the extent of blocking our way forward.

This book, by highlighting struggles as a key overarching theme, attempts to help readers understand that they are not alone in their struggles. Struggles are part and parcel of everyday existence, and each one has a significant role in shaping our journey for the better. Some struggles reveal the grim reality and open our eyes; some act as motivators, providing the necessary ‘kick’ to move forward, while others simply show us the much-needed path of pragmatism to simplify the chaos surrounding us.

This is what Korero re Life is all about.

Frontlist: Your book explores the eccentricities of human existence. What is one life eccentricity that fascinates you the most, and how have you addressed it in the book?

Himanshu: The life eccentricity that fascinates and governs me the most is not giving immense importance to money, not being entrapped within the cobweb of wealth and not valuing people solely because they are rich. Money is important for survival, but it is not the sole factor that determines a successful life. It cannot prevent bad times, guarantee success, or fetch someone respect, peace, and contentment. It is merely a means but can never be the end.

There are four quotes in my book that address this idea:

“I can conquer the world,” his power of wealth chimed. He did win against everything—but not time!

Money may take you to the biggest hospital and the most renowned doctor, but it may not take you to the right treatment.

Remove the fancy gift wrapper of wealth and observe who likes the real present inside.

You don’t need millions to change your life—just one different perspective towards it.

Frontlist: You wear many hats—creative thinker, storyteller, researcher, and critic. How do these roles influence your writing process?

Himanshu: These roles are largely interrelated. Talking about creative thinking, it is needless to say that this is a prerequisite for any kind of writing. Brainstorming, content structuring, deciding the themes and titles, and book cover design all call for wearing the hat of a creative thinker. Further, communicating a key message in a creative manner, following the right and intriguing representation, and ensuring reader engagement warrant wearing the hat of a storyteller.

As a researcher, I ensure that whatever I write is logically connected and not subject to debate on facts and figures. That being said, the work I craft may be subject to multiple interpretations, following the tenets of creative writing.

Last but not least, being a critic helps me critique my own work multiple times, paving the path for improvement. Additionally, it keeps me grounded and open to criticism—an important area where many creators fail!

Frontlist: As someone who values the power of the pen, what advice would you give aspiring writers wishing to share their unique perspectives with the world?

Himanshu: All aspiring writers should just start. Most of the time, our limitations-internal or external- hinder our path. But one should rise above all challenges and become limitless. Some get restricted by their confidence, others by their age.

In a nutshell, I urge aspiring writers to begin pursuing their passion and put forward their work wherever they can. Fame is not important, but building your audience is—no matter how small it is at the beginning. Even if a group of 10 people love your writing and are excited to read more from you, you have already started succeeding as a writer.

I would like to mention two quotes from my book Korero re Life, dedicated to all aspiring writers:

"Your unfulfilled wishes should never make you sad. They are the sole reason that keeps you moving ahead in life."

"Come out of the cage of your age and fly in the vast sky of your timelines."

Frontlist: What kind of feedback have you received from readers, and how has it shaped your perspective as an author?

Himanshu: Most readers have liked my debut book on quotes. They found the quotes relatable and also liked the accompanying illustrations, making the overall reading experience highly engaging!

This feedback has motivated me further and has instilled in me greater confidence as an author. It has strengthened my belief in the choice I made for my debut book. I chose to write a book on quotes (not a very popular choice among writers and authors) instead of a book of poetry, short stories, or even a full-fledged novel. The key is to be authentic and creative—once you do that, there is no looking back!

Frontlist: Do you have plans for future books? Will you continue exploring life’s intricacies in quotes, or do you have other formats or themes for your next project?

Himanshu: I do have plans for future books. I haven’t really decided what my second book will include. It may be Part 2 of Korero re Life or something altogether different. I would love to talk about it once a concrete decision is made. Whatever it will be, I will try to include life’s intricacies through unique dimensions wherever I can!