Ajay Jain

Author / Photographer / Traveller. Redesigning Kunzum as bookshops - a community where writers, readers & artists meet over coffee!

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

@ratan_mrs @kunzum There is some food but more stories! :)

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

Let's talk travel. And food! Live at @Kunzum GK2.

Join me for the 'feast' of gastronomical stories. Do drop a line of confirmation - helps with the planning.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

FINAL PROGRAM: OFF THE EATEN TRACK
You are invited to a ‘feast’ of gastronomical stories from Ajay’s road trips. Quirky, funny, yummy.

Date: Saturday, July 4
Location: Kunzum GK2
Entry: Open to all. No charges.

EVENT FLOW
* 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.: Tea / coffee with light snacks, our secret cookies, and non-alcoholic mixers by our partner, JIMMY’S.
* 5:30 p.m.: Unveiling of #IndiaIsCalling series of travel books by Ajay Jain
* 5:40 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Storytelling show by Ajay

[The Diplomatist Magazine @The_Diplomatist]

@ajayjain writes on ' Charlie's Boys'

The author looks back on his days at one of Delhi’s best-known schools, the all-boys’ institution, St. Columba’s.

https://t.co/UnEAgQGEqe

@kanchi_batra89 @DivvishaBharti

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

EVERY INFLUENCER OUT THERE IS A QUASI-JOURNALIST. INTEGRITY MATTERS. | #WRITENOTES
I was amongst the earliest professional bloggers not just in India but globally. We published on platforms like Blogger and WordPress. Social media as we know today did not exist. Nor did the term ‘Influencer’ in the context it is referred to.

The early crop of professional bloggers had the outlook of journalists even if all did not have a media background like me. We were exploring a new and democratic technology, driven to put quality content out there. The field was getting crowded but some made the early mark.

It was not long before social media platforms grew in popularity with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn leading the pack. YouTube picked momentum too. Smartphones with cameras were not far behind either, the first iPhone hitting the market in 2007. Bloggers like me took to these platforms too for distributing their stories.

And then, out of the blue, the ethic changed as defined by two phrases: ‘Influencer’ and

‘Creator Economy’. Irrespective of one’s grounding, thousands and then many more took to social media to talk technology, fashion, travel, entertainment, food and any other topics that could command an audience.
But here was the kicker: most of these influencers, as they were being referred to now, were relying on the subjects of their stories to pay them for coverage. If you were reviewing a gadget or a hotel, you would demand a payment from the respective brands to feature them. Tragically, money changed hands.

Why do I say ‘tragically’?

I have always maintained this principle: if you create content about someone who has paid you, your objectivity will be compromised. Any influencer who says they do not allow biases to come in when being paid, I say they are fibbing. You cannot have a meal in a fancy restaurant, take payment to write a review, and then post a negative opinion.

I sound like an outlier. The Creator Economy has grown exponentially, and we have enough success stories to talk about. More so with platforms like Instagram, TikTok (not in India) and the Podcast. To make it worse, many an erstwhile credible newspapers and magazines have started charging for editorial coverage, further compromising journalistic integrity.

So where is the problem if it’s a business for some? When any of us post something in the public domain, it comes with a sense of responsibility. Because it makes each of us a quasi-journalist. Particularly those who are deliberately trying to draw attention to their content. What we put out there has an impact – just like newspapers and television have, even if scale differs. And remember: your consumer is smart. They will see through compromised content, and you will never earn their loyalty.

Back to me: I would not, and still do not, charge anyone if I am writing about them. I have been in situations where brands have backed off when I offered to report on their services at no cost to them; they got confused about how to deal with an ‘influencer’ who does not charge. Finding the game too messy, I decided to take to a different field altogether – with books becoming the mainstay of my writing. I no longer identify myself as a blogger or an ‘influencer’ even though I use Wordpress and social media strategically.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

EVERY WRITER (INCLUDING ASPIRING ONES) SHOULD WATCH FINDING FORRESTER | #WRITENOTES
I had been looking out for this movie, and it is finally on Netflix. I had watched ‘Finding Forrester’ many years ago, and I am glad I tuned in again.

Writers tend to slack off from time to time, and I got a timely tailwind to bring me back on track. There was the earnestness of the young Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown), and the towering presence of the reclusive writer William Forrester played by no less than Sean Connery. It is not a masterclass in writing, but it surely identifies the attitude you need to be an author.

And then there is the gem of an advice by Forrester to Jamal: “No thinking – that comes later. You write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is… to write, not to think!” Watch the movie for just this if nothing else.

If you want to be writer, one who is keen to continually improving their art, there is inspiration and guidance galore. In movies, television shows, across the world wide web, and other books! Highly useful, but only if you do what Forrester says: Write!

P.S. I would rate the movie very high for those seeking just entertaining cinema.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

@ratan_mrs @kunzum Thank you so much... :) And in no rush to be older! ;)

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

@Kunzum completes 19 years today (June 12) as a brand.

What a journey it has been – literally while I was on the road, and as a metaphor and philosophy for so much more.

Kunzum started as a travel blog. There was no plan, no vision, no anticipation of what would emerge. And that reflects my biggest learning because of Kunzum: live life with the attitude of a traveller, where you know the direction you are headed in broadly but retain enough flexibility for serendipity to have a say.

Because that’s when magic happens!

I cannot express enough gratitude to the universe for aligning the stars in the way it did. And for all the friendships I developed along the way – their love and wishes keeping me going until now, and further too.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

Seeking an EDITORIAL ASSISTANT.

Should be adept at copy and developmental editing of the written word, at transcribing recordings, repurposing content, and most importantly analysing what makes for good stories.

A full time role based in New Delhi.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

Seeking a PR consultant - can be an agency or individual. Expertise in pitching personal brands - to traditional and new media, and for speaking engagements.

DO NOT write in if your expertise is primarily paid media.

You should be willing to research subject and then make a one page proposal on how you will handle the brand to have a further conversation.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

@schahm @mujoo_karan I never thought full stops could be 'scary' ;)

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

@mujoo_karan It's a personal choice - and I see you wrote this reply effortlessly :)

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

@SunilMalhotra In the tech driven world, authenticity is the secret sauce of stand-out content creators. Even when written correctly by a human, a certain vulnerability will always show through that AI cannot generate.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

AUTHORS: YOUR (WRITTEN) APPEARANCES MATTER
If you are an author, and I come across a shoddily composed social media or blog post by you, or even a direct message, I am unlikely to pick your book to read.

Here is my personal branding suggestion to all writers: LIVE THE PART. What are you selling? Your writing. But if your bio, tweets, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn posts, comments, WhatsApp messages are grammatically incorrect, have typos, and punctuations and spaces appear with disregard to every rule of composition, what is the impression that you are conveying?

‘That I AM AN AUTHOR, so what if my communication comes across poorly? My book/s will not have such errors – do read them.’

Why would I buy into your statement? Even ardent readers can consume only a limited number of books. Why would they risk their time and effort over yours if you have not made the right impression on them? Would you buy fine clothing from a badly groomed designer?

P.S. I have written this because I have noticed high levels of incidence as described above. And I wish I could just shake the errant authors and exclaim, ‘Come on…you should be doing better than this!’

P.P.S. I am not illustrating the point with any examples lest I embarrass anyone.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

WHEN A TIGER HUNTS A TURTLE IN RANTHAMBHORE | #INDIAISCALLING
It’s been exactly 16 years since I had clear and close sightings of tigers in the wild. And what an animated treat they had in store for me. At the Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan in India.

I spotted a male tiger sitting by a water hole and a recently hunted langoor monkey lying in state barely three feet away. I was not more than ten feet away myself. The tiger was waiting patiently, either for a guest or for the dinner bell to sound, when something in the water disturbed him. He slowly turned his head, looked for a few moments through the surface and then it was pow-wow in a flash.

A poor turtle had floated in, and was probably the starter (or was it dessert) that the big cat was waiting for. For the next many seconds, all one could see was frantic splashing as the turtle put up a brave fight. Before long, it was tranquil again. The big cat had expectedly won, but it would be a while before he could carve the flesh out from under the hard shell.

The following day, I spotted the same tiger enjoying a siesta by the same pool.

My camera kept clicking away to record a rare hunt in the wild!

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

That’s Charlie. Trying to make a point to one of Charlie’s Boys.

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

This is one crime that pays - the publishing and sale of what we refer to as pirated books. Not only causing significant losses to publishers and their authors, but also affecting the viability of legitimate bookstores. It will only get better for the 'thieves' - because no one is really going after them with an intent to eliminate them, no matter what you read in the news.

Stay tuned for a longer feature by me on this issue. In the meantime, read this much needed piece by Sara Siddiqui in The Times of India.

https://t.co/IQfQjOndeV

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

25 YEARS ON: A TIME FOR REFLECTION. AND STORYTELLING.
Two momentous events took place twenty five years ago.

Nine Eleven happened. It defined the course of history of the twenty first century, still in its infancy.

It was also the year when I went back to school for a Masters in Journalism. It defined the course of my personal history. And I would go on to live stories I had not imagined.

Most of us pursue higher education, but few do so at thirty one; yes, that was my age at the time of admission to Cardiff University in the UK. It seemed middle age then but prime of youth when I look back. When those in their twenties and early thirties express uncertainties about their professional and personal state of affairs, I tell them it’s ok – you can experiment before committing yourselves to a longer term vision. And it is also ok not to; I have continually rocked my own boat, changing course tangentially to cause vertigo amongst onlookers.

The decision to study again was not ground in deep analysis; the idea came to me out of the blue, and I started running with it so fast that any red flags were no more than a blur. I was going to use the power of the pen as my contribution to nation building.

It is another matter that I did not get breaks for public interest reporting upon graduation; I was ‘overqualified’ for newspapers. But I did land a reporter’s job at the Financial Express, the learning and experience invaluable to whatever I would do later in life.

I quit after a while, having developed a strong understanding of how stories are researched and crafted. I would dabble with publishing a youth newspaper, and blogs as journalistic platforms, before going on to write my books and setting up @Kunzum.

And now, twenty five years later, I am in a deeply reflective state. How can I move into the next higher orbit? And enhance my creative skills?

Through storytelling. I do so anyway through my books, and will continue to. But look at other media – a mix of live audiences, video, illustrations, photographic art, text. More importantly, focus on the power of stories to entertain, to touch the soul and the heart. So we may collectively deliberate upon what is important, what uplifts us, what makes our world a better place to live in. Imbibe varied points of view, so we too may look at life from different vantage points.

We have all lived stories. You share yours, and I will share mine.

[Books Wale Bhaiya | Book reviews I Podcasts @abhishektan]

A fantastic conversation with @ajayjain- Reader, traveller and owner of the beautiful @kunzum bookstore. We talked about books, bookstores, authors, and most importantly, his school mate @iamsrk The podcast link is:
https://t.co/5nxhdKCbTr

[Ajay Jain @ajayjain]

Let's talk about Shah Rukh Khan @iamsrk and other Charlie's Boys. And books too - especially those at @Kunzum. With @abhishektan with whom I had one of the 'funnest' conversations ever!

https://t.co/PP9SoTEeBZ