Identified by Newsweek magazine in March 2004 as one of the "most powerful and influential" South Asians worth watching, Gotham Chopra writes on spirituality, culture, news and youth. Co-founder of Chopra Media and a partner in Intent Media (with father Deepak Chopra, New Age guru, and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur), Gotham talks:
- Tell us about all the books you have written and a little bit about the theme of each.
My first book was titled CHILD OF THE DAWN and was a short narrative about an orphan boy growing up in India and the various mentors he encountered on his quest to recover a great source of power. The book emerged out of some of my own experience as an adolescent, growing up around so many great teachers and mentors but ultimately realizing that they could only help me find that real wisdom lay within, and that it constantly reveals itself as one’s life unfurls.
My second book was called FAMILIAR STRANGERS and we non-fiction. It chronicled my experiences as a journalist on the front lines of various wars and conflicts where often I would see and interact with soldiers, rebels, terrorists, etc. that were younger than me, fighting wars and harbouring grievances that were far older than any of us. The book really was an attempt to try and understand why as a civilization we constantly seem to be at odds with ourselves and is there a way to possibly transcend some of these petty tribal instincts and evolve.
The final book was a graphic novel called BULLETPROOF MONK that, not unlike CHILD OF THE DAWN, was really the story of a young streetwise kid who embarks of a quest to locate the legendary Bulletproof Monk, only to discover that the heralded hero is none other than himself. I think the same basic allegory was at work as Child of the Dawn, just in a different setting. To some extent, I think the story of my life is about wandering through all sorts of existential dilemmas encountering a variety of interesting characters who ultimately simply remind you of stuff you already know.
- How about your role in Virgin Comics. What challenges did you face?
I am one of the founders of Virgin Characters and also oversee all of the creative development in the company. Challenges – where to start? Any entrepreneur faces a litany of challenges every single day that range from operational hurdles to personell problems, to the tremendous difficulties of having to creatively motivate artists and writers every day to tell stories that readers will care about.
- What makes a good book?
There really is no secret sauce I am afraid but there are certainly elements that can contribute to stories that have a chance to succeed. First and foremost is finding a characters that readers care about. That doesn’t mean one that they have to love, but one that they can relate to, or empathize with, or fear, or recognize contradicting forces in similar to themselves. Once you have that character, a good writer will take the character through a journey that challenges their sense of self, makes them question their own existence and self-definition and usually come out the other side with a greater sense of self.
- Which films have you produced and directed? How was that like?
I have produced a number of documentaries while working with Channel One News, a news network in the US. Also, I was a producer on Bulletproof Monk, the feature film adapted from the comic book that I co-wrote some years back. Now as part of Virgin Comics, I am producing a number of our books as they go from comic books to films. Producing and directing films are two different types of responsibilities, both creative endeavors in different ways, but very fulfilling. Seeing a vision and story evolve from conception to the screen where large audiences can view them is always exciting and invigorating.
- What inspires you?
I think there are every day incidents in normal life that can be inspiring if you look for them. I often read about normal people who do extraordinary things from difficult situations and I def find that inspiring. I find the way my young son interacts with the world and how he consumes the planet as he becomes more aware of it – that’s inspiring.
- How did the idea of K Lounge in New York arise?
My friend Vikram Chatwal called me up and said that he was starting a new bar/lounge in NYC and did I have any ideas on what we could do to make it different. Vik is a maestro in the hospitality business so he took the lead and I just followed and learned.
- What is mythology for you? How have you described mythology in most simple words in your books?
Myth makes up the intrinsic and timeless stories that narrate our existence as a species. Great myths are about heralded heroes and villains that represent the great character archetypes that reside is us all – sinner, saint, angel, demon, divine, diabolical, sacred, and profane. The greatest myths do not live in the annals of time but really are re-enacted and re-imagined every day because their resonance and relevance never fades.
- You have said that “letting go” of stress, fear, bad past or negative emotions is the best way to heal the mind and the body. What is the best way to “let go?”
Meditate, exercise, play.
- What are the three most important things that help you attain personal happiness and contentment?
Meditate, exercise, play.
- What are your views on attachment versus detachment? Do you live a detached life?
I strive for a detached life – not being attached about the past or have expectations of the future but it’s not easy. Then again, if I were totally at peace with my own existential dilemmas, there would not be much point to living. I am doing the best that I can (for now).
- A dynamic individual and an inspiration for the youth. What are your future plans? More books, a TV show and more?
Like I said (above), try not to make too many plans or live life with such focus ad vision that I cannot enjoy the journey. I have aspirations in life: to tell more stories, to reach more people, to contribute to a planet that is more safe and nurturing to people everywhere, to answer some of my own existential dilemmas and questions, and most importantly, to raise children that will be compassion citizens of the planet.
- Any advice for the readers and fans across the globe?
13. Tell us more about your experiences at Channel One. What did you learn from it and how do you think it impacted media in general?
To this day, working for Channel One remains the most rewarding professional endeavor of my life. Not only was it my first real job out of college, but where else could a recent graduate with little professional experience get a job that day one sent him to exotic places to interview the likes of popes, presidents, terrorists, drug barons, dictators, and astronauts?
Over the 5 years that I was at Channel One, I visited about two dozen countries, including places like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, Checnya, Russia, Colombia, China and more, journeying into remote regions and meeting people and seeing places that few ever have. At the time, Channel One was the most watched news source for young people in America, reaching almost half the teenagers in America and probably the single place where they may ever be exposed to some of the critical issues occurring across the planet.
To that extent, I always realized the tremendous responsibility I had as a journalist and story-teller, to be objective in covering stories, but also subjective in being honest about my feelings - ranging from revulsion at the crowded conditions of a refugee camp in Gaza to the exhiliration of watching the space shuttle launch in Orlando, Florida. Also, because we always strived to create as authentic a news experience as we could, we often just used simple digital cameras, didn't bother with elaborate lights or sets or any of that stuff.
To that extent, I think we were ahead of the curve and the news media is still catching up today to the fact that when people seek information, they want it in the most honest, uncut, raw form so that they can draw their own conclusions, At Channel One, i think we realized that going out into the world and exploring it created more questions than answers. And while we tried to find those answers, it was always just a noble effort, no promises that we could come up with answers because things aren't often that simple.
14. What is a typical day in the life of Gotham Chopra?
I hate to think there is a "typical day" in the life of Gotham Chopra as that would make me boring and predictable. There are a few things I like to keep consistent though, waking up early and playing with my son, drinking a good coffee, and finding some time to exercise and/or meditate. The rest I try to keep varied but always includes meeting interesting people and hearing their stories, traveling to parts of the planet both big and small, quiet and loud, sacred and profane, in an effort to better understand the myths that define our humanity. That may sound lofty and esoteric but I have been lucky to have my curiosity nurtured from the earliest age. I honestly believe that the day I find myself satisfied with my life is the day that I will be ready take on my samadhi or silence. And I am pretty sure that day is very far off.
By Nikki Rattan
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