About the Author: Capt. Asha Shinde Alagappa is a Season Veteran and the first Indian Women Army Ammunition and Explosive Expert, Author of the book ‘ Be the Hero of Your Life’. She is presently a Strategic Advisory & EC Member at ‘MSME Business Forum(India)’ & “Naam Foundation, she has worked in Corporate for 2 decades as SME in defence business, her last appointment being Vice President at Iron Lady for women empowerment and leadership pan India role supporting thousands of women. Capt. Asha is the founder of Gyan Darshani training with guidance to students to join defence as officers. She has been a Certified Defence Career Coach and Business Mentor for the last 2 Decades along with being the motivational and Keynote speaker to share her knowledge and experience in the education institutes and Corporate.
1 Can you tell us a little about your book?
The idea of writing the book came as there was no consolidated handbook available for the students to find out about various types of officers’ entries to join defence services. There are many different websites and organization that deals with specific type of entries, it was important to collect and prepare a handbook that could really help the user to finally find all the information in one book along with all necessary information, preparations, and details of authorized websites to check and online apply for the entries.
2 Is there a specific event that inspired this story or was this an out of the blue idea?
There is a background to really bring all the information together. In the past, while I was preparing for my entrance exams, not much was known or available on the website in the year 1991-92. Sometime later, online form-filling became popular and essential. When the form filling became necessary, it was mandatory to go to all the different websites and fill in individual forms as per the requirements of that particular entry. Even today, so many people do not know where all information is available. Thus, it is imperative to understand the necessity and importance of writing a self-help book, a handbook, or a motivational book like this one written.
Important aspects covered in this book are –
- Personal Growth and Empowerment: It aims to empower individuals by providing them with tools, strategies, and insights to improve their lives, and encourage readers to take control of their own destinies, make positive changes, and reach their full potential.
- Inspiration and Motivation: The book serves as a source of inspiration and motivation to individuals to overcome challenges and achieve success inspiring the readers to do the same.
- Guidance and Practical Advice: This book typically offers practical advice and actionable steps that readers can implement, and also provides a roadmap for personal and professional development.
- Emotional Support: Many people turn to self-help books in remote areas where classes and support systems do not exist, with financially difficult times in their lives. Such books can offer complete informational and emotional support, helping readers cope with challenges like stress, anxiety, or loss giving complete information of self-preparation for the various exams and interviews.
- Perspective Shift: This book can help readers change their perspectives and see their lives in a new light. They encourage self-reflection and a shift in mindset, which can lead to personal transformation with absolute and clear information and data shared in the book.
- Community and Connection: The book can make individuals feel like they are part of a community of people striving for similar goals and facing similar challenges. This sense of connection can be important for personal growth.
- Customized Advice: Every author brings their unique experiences and insights to their books. The book “Be the Hero of Your Life” was written by Capt. Asha Shinde Alagappa contains information, advice, and wisdom specific to various military officers’ entries, backgrounds, and expertise, which can resonate with a particular audience.
- Continual Learning: Lifelong learning is essential for personal development. Self-help books or Handbooks like ‘Be the Hero of Your Life’ can contribute to this process by introducing readers to new though specific ideas, concepts, and strategies for self-improvement.
- Positive Impact: The author has a compelling message and the book is well-received, it will have the potential to positively impact the lives of many individuals, helping them to choose and achieve the best career choices to lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
In conclusion, the necessity and importance of writing a self-help book like “Be the Hero of Your Life” often revolve around the potential to empower, inspire, and guide young readers toward personal growth and a better quality of life.
3 What got you writing in the first place?
There has been a gap like a black hole to find all the information with specifications in one place. Thus, it was important to write this book to help the young students in class II cities and rural areas where most of the information does not reach the students in any form, and one concise book could really make a big difference in their lives.
4. What was your impression of your first draft when you read it?
It was indeed heart-touching to get the first draft reading as compiled data and information together. It made defence entry into the officer level achievable.
5 Which part of your story connects the most with you? Why?
The struggles to prepare and clear all types of exams for defence entry as an officer in the year 1993 to 1994. It was not popular at all for a girl to choose defence as a career, that too as an Army full-time officer.
6 What makes your book the one to read?
The book is sure a collection of complete information on all types of entries into the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Territorial Army, and various Para Military Forces, especially as officers share the clear and authentic information for all the processes right from form filling, preparations, exams, interviews, medicals and finally results of selection.
7 What was the best advice you got while writing?
To write about all types of entries to become an officer with specific preparation and hard work needed along with clear information about complete processes which are not widely known and shared in the public domain to help many young students to pursue and prepare with ease to get positive results in their lives.
8 Who’s your all-time favourite author? Which book of his/hers made you fall in love with them?
‘Can’t Hurt Me’ by ‘David Goggins’ is a game-changing memoir that helped me push the boundaries of my potential as a student and as an Army Officer being a woman to seek a much higher level of success with passion and valour. His book gave me an inspiring story and made me live the journey of resilience and perseverance to achieve the highest goal of my life.
9 What is your evergreen tip to the writers out there?
Never, never give up on yourself, you have to work it out to get the results you want in life. Many times challenges seem to be huge, yet self-grounding with clarity can help move forward and get the specific results with hard work and perseverance.
10 What was your hardest scene to write?
Writing about the various parts of the exams conducted at Service Selection Board and to some extent about the written exam preparation for various entries as an officer, as there was hardly any information available in the public domain and not many were really aware of these types of exams and interview techniques.
11 Do you have another plot brewing?
Yes, I am already writing a memoir or semi-autobiography, and soon it will be out for publication with the name “Dad, I did it”. I need time to capture the right feeling and emotion to make it a best seller in the time to come.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9357765379?ref=myi_title_dp
