PVPF 2024

Interview with Harsheath Chauhan, author of Kaliyuga

To defeat the Kali within, embrace your inner Kalki. Two sides of the same coin
on Jul 31, 2023

Harsheath Chauhan is a 22-year-old student double majoring in Psychology and Creative Writing from the US. Combining his interest in Indian mythology with superheroes, Harsheath spent most of his early adolescence using his action figures to create stories of mythical beings based in modern-day India. Through years of ideation, Harsheath has built a whole story universe. Using these stories he has finished working on the first book in his debut series Kaliyuga. Among other things, Harsheath is also an ultra-runner and uses running as an opportunity to brainstorm ideas.

Frontlist: The presence of an AI and an ancient being adds an interesting dimension to your book. Can you tell us more about their role in shaping the protagonist, Gautam Yadav, into the Kalki Avatar?

Harsheath: There is no direct interaction between the AI, Qumla Thakral, and Gautam Yadav throughout the first book. The allegiance of the AI seems to be uncertain. At times, it feels as if she’s helping the Conferrati. But she also guides two allies of Gautam Yadav which helps them gain an edge. Gautam doesn’t learn of her existence in book 1. She will have more of a role to play in book 2 and 3.

Frontlist: The question of Gautam's true identity as the Kalki Avatar adds an intriguing layer of uncertainty. Can you share any insights into building this character?

Harsheath: Writing the ‘Chosen One’ trope is so much fun. Gautam Yadav is a conflicted character who has had a very unconventional life to say the least. In his teenage years, he justifies joining an extremist organization to avenge the death of his sister. Before he realizes his mistake, it is already too late and a lot of damage has been done. So when Gautam is rescued by a group of strangers and told that he’s the Tenth Vishnu, he’s not too sure. Conflict and guilt plague his mind. Despite the failings of his past, he unflinchingly sticks to his moral code of not killing anybody.

I wanted to create a conflicted character who has to fight his way through the doubt. And I don’t want the audience to know whether or not he’s the Kalki Avatar which is why book 1 ends on a cliffhanger. The journey of Anakin Skywalker from the Star Wars saga has inspired Gautam’s inner turmoil as well.

Frontlist: . Your book presents a unique take on the Kalki Avatar concept. What message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

Harsheath: One of the notes that I leave on my signed copies is

“To defeat the Kali within, embrace your inner Kalki. Two sides of the same coin…”

I would want the readers to reflect within and understand that Kalki and Kali are truly two sides of the same coin. Defeating Kali will be a challenging endeavor, but it is ultimately Kalki who is destined to win.

Frontlist: The concept of time and space working unfathomably in Swapna Lok is an interesting take on the story. How did you come up with the idea for it?

Harsheath: The concept of the Swapna Lok is inspired from the movie Inception and the video game series, Assassin’s Creed. Just like Inception, time in the “dream realm” functions slower than the world outside. This gives the heroes a realm to train without too many real world restraints. It is a lot more efficient than training in the real world because of the slower passage of time. Just like Assassin’s Creed, the skills learnt in a different realm can help the heroes in the real world.

Frontlist: Your book spans multiple time periods. How did you approach weaving these different time frames together to create a seamless narrative flow?

Harsheath: Incorporating a multilinear narrative for my debut book was risky and challenging but fun nonetheless. It took a lot of rewrites to nail it and intertwine all the individual stories in the second half of the book. According to most of the reviews so far, readers feel like foreshadowing events in different disconnected chapters made the first half quite intriguing.

Frontlist: As an author, what challenges did you face while writing "Kaliyuga: The Awakening of the Tenth," particularly when tackling such intricate mythological concepts? How did you overcome these challenges?

Harsheath: I could go on and on about this. Long story short, I experienced a lot of crippling doubt. Which is why I didn’t even touch the first draft of the book for two years. It was only after I went through a very tumultuous phase that my whole life was redefined. Everything that I thought was important fizzled away from my life, initially leaving me with an identity crisis and a sense of purposelessness. I had intertwined my identity with such surface level things that once they were taken away from me, I didn’t know who I was. But this gave me an opportunity to rediscover myself and connect with the immortal Soul. With nothing else left to look forward to, I dedicated the next few months to the second draft of Kaliyuga. My philosophical and spiritual journey have immensely helped me.