Everyone who gets a troubled childhood does not have to turn immoral: Vish Dhamija at the launch of 'Deja Karma'

In the bright cheerful ambience of Kunzum Books in GK 2, Delhi, author Vish Dhamija launched his latest dark book titled 'Deja Karma' recently.

While Vish's books always feature complex characters, there’s no doubt that Jay Singh, the protagonist of his new book is an anti-hero. His twisted backstory and his positives and negatives were discussed in insightful detail during the talk with Shabri Prasad Singh, author of ‘Borderline’.

As someone who has lived with Borderline Personality Disorder, and has written a book on it, Shabri offered great insight into how mental health is treated in India. Vish himself admitted he had been to therapy for PTSD, and between the both of them they had a balanced and empathetic view on mental health issues and how far they can go to excuse one’s behaviour.

“You can explain it, but you still can't excuse his behaviour. Everyone who gets a troubled childhood does not have to turn immoral,” Vish stated. “I'm not saying he's giving excuses, he didn't have to give any excuses to anyone. What I was trying to say is explaining is different from ‘we pardoned you’. I cannot condone his behaviour even though I know or I have written his past,” he clarified.

Jay Singh truly had a dark past-- he’d lost his father and then seen his mother convicted for the murder, though he remembers someone else being in the room whom his mother tells him not to bring up. He indulges in addictive behaviours and is notorious for being the kind of lawyer who can make you win any case, even if it’s through dubious means.

In the book, he gets a case which is so high stakes that his career and life are on the line. The book is a legal and crime thriller, like many of Vish’s previous books, though it explores philosophical themes of change and karma too.

Explaining the new book's title, Vish said, “The only difference we have as human beings versus some of the other animals is we are free to make choices. What we miss is that the choices you make have consequences, and the consequences is what karma is. And the fact that it happens again and again and people don't learn is the 'deja'. We've all seen it before, but we all think that it's going to happen to someone else. We will escape, but we don't. That's the karma part of it.”

Vish’s own outlook on life were quite a contrast to the contents of his book when he spoke on his beliefs of life, friendship and, love; even in the context of his character, he was his positive humorous self.

“And life is a mystery. Don't try to solve it. It's not a problem, It's a mystery. Keep on living. Something will unfold and enjoy that. Most people I know, they think life is a problem-- I have to solve this, I have to solve that-- and zindagi nikal jati hai (life goes on). Let it play out,” he advised.

The discussion was followed by a question and answer session with the author.

He also shared that the show rights to his 'Rita Farerra' series has been optioned and hopefully next year it would go into production.

The event with the audience getting a chance to get their books signed by the author.