Alumni Author: Mood Swings – Rohit Prasad, PGP 1996

In this insightful interview, Rohit Prasad, a PGP 1996 alumnus of IIM Bangalore, shares the inspiration behind his latest book, Mood Swings, a collection of nine short stories exploring the intricate relationship between human emotions and decision-making. Building on themes from his debut novel, The Pilgrim: Inferno Redux, which examined the consequences of sin through a parallel to Dante’s Inferno, Rohit delves into the concept of emotions as both powerful drivers and potential obstacles in our lives. Drawing from personal reflections and vivid imagination rather than autobiographical experiences, each story in Mood Swings presents relatable characters navigating emotional challenges, offering valuable lessons for readers. Rohit also discusses the influence of his corporate background and education at IIM Bangalore, emphasizing the importance of discipline and self-trust in both writing and professional endeavors. Join us as we explore the creative process and themes of resilience and growth in Mood Swings.

What inspired you to write “Mood Swings”? How did you come up with the idea of focusing on human emotions?

My first book, The Pilgrim: Inferno Redux, focused on the theme of sin and its consequences. It drew a parallel to Dante’s Inferno which describes the nine levels of hell, each based on one of the sins. My book traces the journey of a man on a fateful day as he remembers nine incidents in his life, each dealing with one of the sins.

After my first book was released, I started thinking and reading on why we sin, which led me to the realization that we do so as we are slaves to our emotions. That took me down the rabbit hole of emotions.

In the ancient Indian sacred texts, the ‘Upanishads’, the nine rasas (the ‘nav rasa’) mean the nine emotions, where ‘rasa’ connotes the state of mind, or the aesthetic flavor in an artistic context.

The new book includes nine short stories, each story dealing with one of the emotions, that offer a fresh perspective on how emotions influence our decisions and actions and eventually shape our lives. 

Did any personal experiences or events in your life shape the story of “Mood Swings”?

None of the stories in my second book are autobiographical or even inspired by real life incidents, while some parts of the first book were.

However, I have met interesting people and seen peculiar things, and I let my vivid imagination run wild.

As an example, last summer, I spent a weekend with friends at a cottage, rented on AirBnB, in upstate New York. It had a hot tub in its backyard. Every time we had to open the tub for use, its top lifted slowly, and very dramatically, when we pressed a button. Every single time the top lifted, I imagined we would find a body floating in the tub.

That image triggered something in my brain and ended up becoming a pivotal plotline in the second story “The Writing on the Wall.” 

How is “Mood Swings” different from your previous book, “The Pilgrim: Inferno Redux”?

Since The Pilgrim is a single story with multiple sub-stories with an overarching theme, it took time for the story concept to build and grab the reader’s attention. It is also set on the calamitous day of 9/11 in New York making it darker in theme.

Mood Swings is much lighter and faster in tempo compared to the first book. The stories are more positive with uplifting and redeeming themes flowing through them. 

How has your work in the corporate world influenced your writing, especially in “Mood Swings”? Do you see any connections between corporate life and the emotions in the book?

I prefer not to write about the corporate world for primarily two reasons: (i) To make the stories more relatable and (ii) to not run afoul of any compliance or disclosure norms by omission. Only a couple of incidents in both my books deal with the financial industry.

I do rely on the lessons I have learned in the corporate world – discipline and focus – for my writing.

What lessons from your time at IIMB have helped you in both your writing and your professional life?

I believe the freedom to explore and the confidence to trust oneself are the two most important things I gained at IIMB. They have been invaluable in my professional journey and they are proving to be indispensable as I take my early steps in the literary world.

Balancing corporate work and creative writing can be challenging. How do you manage to shift between these two worlds?

Most corporate work is structured and defined by rules. As a banker, regulations and procedures are even more paramount. Creative writing requires breaking shackles and busting conventional boundaries, especially if one is writing stories with unexpected endings. 

Compartmentalizing the two worlds are essential to being a good writer, as well as maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

What was the hardest part of writing “Mood Swings”, especially while juggling your professional responsibilities?

Apart from finding time to write the book, the hardest part I found was maintaining my stream of thought about plotlines. I would think up an innovative angle over the weekend and noodle over it – but when Monday came around, I would be so engrossed in my professional work that I would forget threads where the story could head. By the time Saturday came around, I would have the kernel of the idea but all the tendrils would have been lost, which would necessitate me getting into my imaginative & boundary-less frame of mind and starting afresh.

How do you think Mood Swings will connect with readers who are also managing their own emotional and work lives?

All the stories are written about ordinary boys-or-girls-next-door and meant to be very relatable. Though the book is a work of fiction and not a self-help guide, the readers can try and reach the morals of the stories and take away lessons on their emotions and not being slaves to them.

Or they could just read the stories and enjoy them – laugh at the funny parts, cry at the sad bits and be amazed at the unexpected endings!

What advice would you give to people in the corporate world who want to explore creative pursuits like writing?

Do not be afraid.

What are you working on next? Can you share anything about your upcoming projects or plans?

Nothing in particular at present, but I am increasingly drawn to the story of ‘Pandora’s Box’. I want to write a story of what happens next … after only Hope is left in the box.

Rohit Prasad’s Mood Swings invites readers to reflect on their emotional journeys while offering relatable narratives that resonate with everyday experiences. With its blend of humor and depth, the book encourages us to embrace our emotions rather than be enslaved by them. For those interested in exploring Rohit’s work further, you can find his books, The Pilgrim: Inferno Redux and Mood Swings, available on Amazon.