A debut novel is indeed special being an author’s first attempt to make a mark among readers. On this count Aayush’s “Toppers” (Penguin) has done well as the lucidly written fiction with well etched characters deals what all of us have faced in life – to be the best or at least be judged as best in the school.
Confiding that he had a pretty uneventful life as compared to the machinations in his story, Aayush says his school life inspired this book. “There is this fascination with toppers when you're in school, the obsession with brilliance leaves a mark on you. And some of my best friends in school were toppers, but most of them were so misunderstood. Yes, being the apple of the teachers’ eyes is great, but the expectations are backbreaking. It's not all roses and sunshine. For once, I'd like all of us to be okay with the average.” The tough going is portrayed through a charismatic boy from a royal family, a calculating damsel in distress, a school star who has it all, a topper who cannot lose, a soft-spoken boy tired of living in the shadows and an unstoppable child prodigy – with their fears and follies. While admitting that incidents of bullying, nervous breakdowns and constant upstaging are all real, Aayush says they were not in such extreme forms.
The crux of the story is over competitiveness pushes students to indulge in petty scheming and groupism. Stating while pursuit for excellence isn’t bad, Aayush says, doing so for the sake of it is. “Much of the hoopla in the novel is about the post of the Head Scholar which itself doesn't signify anything except the acceptance of peers and the society. The race becomes so all consuming that many of our characters overlook the real issues plaguing them: their real aspirations, struggles with finding out who they are. It all comes back to the hamster on the wheel. We are taught to run so fast , that we forget that there's an actual world outside the confined space.”
Isn’t this over-competitiveness instilled in youngsters by teachers and parents like Walia and Dev’s grandfather who also decide their wards’ career? So we have Dev who is grilled into joining the armed forces when he desires to be a cricketer while Himanshu is pushed to be a topper when he wants to be photographer. “What adults in the story don't understand is that this generation also has its own share of issues. Problems that the youngsters cannot overcome while under constant pressure from adults to counter problems that they have faced. I know it might be oversimplification but as far as the story is concerned, this conundrum plays its part.” On guardians deciding children’s future, the writer says, “It is more about expectations. Himanshu and Dev’s parents and grandparents aren’t oblivious to their passions but simply that the choice does not suit their plans for them.” But this is changing. “Sharmaji ka ladka isn't the gold standard anymore. Now it is ki jaante ho that guy's start up got this much funding? Or this girl'’ a YouTube star? Or that someone won an Olympic medal?” quips Aayush.
Fond of writing since school, Aayush first two works were not published but that did not deter him. “The joy of writing is so fulfilling in itself that it didn't really matter,” he says gearing for his next book.
