Capt Shakil Ahmed is a C-suite leader with three decades of prolific experience. A notable Indian Army veteran, he is the recipient of the coveted Sword of Honour from Officers Training Academy. He is the co-editor of MY INDIA, MY GODS Vol. 2, an anthology of creative nonfiction.

In this interview, he discusses the vision behind the project.

What is the anthology about? Share an elevator pitch.

It is a collection of forty personal essays on faith, divinity, and spirituality in India. Vol. 1 is for young adults. Vol. 2 is recommended for 18 years and above.

Why is this anthology different? What is its USP?

The one thing about this great nation, India, is its mind-blowing diversity. Everything, from geography, language, food, clothes, culture, routine, and habits, changes every few kilometres. I mean, it is phenomenal, and therefore it needs to be protected with care for future generations. 

As someone who studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya and served in the Army, I consider myself inclusive to the core. Yet, these twenty stories in the book were a revelation even for me. They reveal intricate dimensions of spirituality and faith that go beyond surface-level perceptions. I felt there is so much I still need to learn from and know about my fellow human beings and appreciate the heterogeneity, the multifariousness. Each essay opens your mind a little more and makes you revel at the beauty and spiritual richness of this incredible nation. 

MY INDIA, MY GODS is a humble effort and a tribute that we would like to share with every single Indian who has ever believed in the exuberant, simple, complex, grand, eternal, and resilient paradox called Bharat, India, Hindustan.

Why does this book matter?

My generation, including the past few, have failed drastically, at every aspect, to present our children with a safer world. Be it the environment, society, health, education or values. The corruption that has seeped in is massive and irreversible. With the communal narratives that are going on all around us, I just felt like giving up. Sahana and I are deeply disturbed, and we channelised our thoughts into building Bare Bones—making books on diversity, faith, harmony, and peace like MY INDIA, MY GODS. Thinking back, we grew up in an era where it was taboo for us to discuss religion and politics at social events, and these values were upheld both in the civilian world as well as the Army. The general populace was united against the nefarious designs of hate-mongers and usually fought back together. However, things have changed. But then, we felt that these books matter more than ever. That is the only way we know to try and redeem ourselves in the eyes of our daughter, and the future generations. By bringing back the joy of reading and by supporting stories of innocence, belongingness, friendship, harmony, and peace—one book at a time.

How does this relate to similar books? 

Growing up in the 80s–90s, there were numerous stories of unity in diversity, oneness, and communal harmony. However, I cannot think of a compilation.

Three words to best describe you.

A die-hard optimist!