In his latest book, ‘The Adventures of R4’, author Datta Damodar Naik tells the story of a group of children and their magical friends who are on an adventure to bring peace between India and Pakistan
NT KURIOCITY
Businessman, social activist, and author, Datta Damodar Naik has released his new book, ‘The Adventures of R4’, for children and young adults.
The book focuses on four friends —Ranisa, Raina, Ranvir, and Rehaan—along with their pets: Bingo the dog, Chani the squirrel, Leitao the piglet, and Mittu the parrot. In the story, they meet a magician and a witch who teach them magical tricks like invisibility and mind-reading. Using these powers, the children stop terrorism in the Kashmir Valley and bring peace between India and Pakistan.
Naik has been writing in Konkani and Marathi, mostly for an adult audience, for many years. However, it was the birth of his grandchildren that motivated him to begin writing stories in English for children and young adults. His first two English books for children are ‘Uncommon Wealth’, a modern reinterpretation of the ‘Panchatantra’, and ‘The Jungle School’, a contemporary retelling of the ‘Hitopadesha’.
In ‘The Adventures of R4’ Naik uses simple language to impart moral values such dedication, determination, courage, self-confidence, imagination, and love for animals.
Targeted at students from Classes 5 to 12, aged 10 to 18, the book is available at leading bookstores and Monginis outlets in Goa.
Excerpts from the interview:
What made you blend fantasy, adventure, and moral lessons in ‘The Adventures of R4’ and what do you want young readers to take from it?
To make this book engaging, I used fantasy, which is loved by children. A prominent example of this is the runaway success of Harry Potter. Children also love adventures, so the book is a mix of fantasy, magic, and real-life experiences. A good story should hold the attention of children and keep them engaged until the very end.
How does ‘The Adventures of R4’ differ from your other books?
My first two books were collections of stories, but ‘The Adventures of R4’ is a novella. I believe stories stay with children long after they’ve read them, while general narratives can fade away. We have a long tradition of storytelling, with tales from works like the Panchatantra, Hitopadesha, Jataka Kathas, Kathasaritsagara, Ramayana, and Mahabharata, and I wanted to continue that tradition, which has shaped childhood learning for centuries.
The story takes the characters to different places in India and other countries. How did you choose these locations and how do they add to the story?
The story takes readers to various cities in India, such as Delhi, Kolkata, and Srinagar, as well as international locations like England, Switzerland, Africa, and Canada. I wanted young readers to experience the world, and I believe that these diverse settings broaden their horizons.
As a businessman, social activist, and author, how do your experiences influence the stories you write and the messages you share?
I have found that children connect with my books. Whenever I visit a house, many share with me how much they enjoy my stories and even mention winning storytelling competitions based on them.
How has your writing style or approach changed since your earlier books?
When I first started writing stories for children, I found that writing for children was more challenging than writing for adults. Children’s books need to be very lucid and engaging, with a strong grasp of child psychology. A good book must have both substance and style. The stories should be rich in visual imagery so that when children read them, they can vividly imagine the characters and the events. My goal is to make reading feel like a personal conversation, as if I’m telling the stories to my grandchildren.
Are you currently working on any other books?
I am working on a sequel to ‘The Adventures of R4’, likely to be titled ‘Space Odyssey of R4’. In this novella, children will journey in a spacecraft beyond our solar system, exploring the vast universe. I plan to introduce my target audience to the wonders of astronomy. Also, I have plans to take my stories to social media and narrate them to children, as many kids prefer listening to stories rather than reading them. It’s important to revive the age-old tradition of storytelling, as children develop a love for reading when they are exposed to engaging and
interesting stories.
