Be true to ourselves on what we write: Kanagaraj Pandian

Kanagaraj Pandian

My full name is Kanagaraj Pandian and I blog under the name my parents and friends calling me ‘Kanagu’. I am writing at www.kanaguonline.wordpress.com. There is another blog in which I am writing in Tamil: www.enadhu-ularalgal.blogspot.com. I am now living nearby Chennai and also employed in one of the software firms as just another S/W engineer.

I love writing blogs, reading them, watching movies and cricket, reading books, photography, politics and some other things. I have certain interests towards everything but never been into anything in a full fledged manner.

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

• A: First of all, thanks to the SpeakBindas team for providing me with this opportunity. I am also excited as this is my first interview after the HR interview I attended for my job.

• I am blogging for past 15 months, to be precise from September 2008. I myself am an inspiration to blog as I thought that I am not doing anything worthwhile and a blog will be better option to keep myself occupied.

• I can say that my PM Mr. Rajesh and my teammates motivated me to write more at the initial stages.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

• A: There is nothing specific on what I write. I will write down whatever I think a worthy one to write and share. And also I will make sure that I am not repetitive. So it covers everything from chats with my friends, politics, short stories, cricket, movies and my wavering minds thoughts.

• Yeah… I myself maintaining my blog.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

• A: If I take my blog as whole, it is complete by only 50% with my posts. It’s my blog friends who make the other 50% with their thoughts, encouragement and ideas. If not for the comments I got in my earlier posts, I wouldn’t have come this far in blogging. So it’s really important to reply to the comments and I always reply to most of the comments.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

• A: My blog hit varies from 50 to 100/day. And most of them who are reading my blog are from India, few were from UK and US.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

• A: It’s just a passion and I don’t want to make it as a medium to earn as of now. But as I love blogging if it gives me the cash required to run my life then it will be better.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

• A: There are many and I can’t name few. Everyone was unique in their own way and every blog which I read and leave my comments are my favorites.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

• A: There is only one thing I can say, be true to ourselves on what we write.

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

• A: Certainly. Through blogging, I have gained some knowledge and my perspective towards the life and also various issues have changed and most importantly I came to know many wonderful friends from all over the world. I am sure that I wouldn’t have met such friends if I didn’t started blogging and my life would have been less interesting in the past 15 months.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

• A: Happiest moment… I desperately needed a job when I was studying in my final year and I got it in my first interview. So that can be termed as my happiest moment.

• Gloomiest moment… There is a bunch of years from the age 15 to age 19 which I wish that they never exist in my life. But then they too played a part in the happy life I am leading now.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

• A: First choice will be Switzerland and I will take my mom along with me as she always wished to visit that country.

• Second, it will be any snow falling region (Preferably Himalayas) and I love to be alone there.

• Third, it will be London and I fell in love with that city after seeing the places from Vimmuuu’s blog. Ash told that she will come with me and guide me. It’s always good to have a nice friend as company.

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

• A: Yeah, definitely I am into it. There are many. I like to list down 5 of my evergreen and current favorites combined.

• Anbe Sivam (Tamil), Pulp fiction, Godfather – Part I, He loves me, he loves me not and Mouna raagam (Tamil).

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

• A: Except money it has helped me in all the important things.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

• A: I like to stop judging people and also like to shrug of my habit of procrastination.

Q: What is your deepest fear?

• A: Of being left out in this world without anyone to love me and also losing my loved ones.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

• A: It will be late leader Mr. Kamaraj. I want to see in reality a man in politics who is clean, concerned about the nation and poor and also honest.

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

• A: I am not seeing any shows these days and favorite songs are way too many. Just listing out the latest 5 favorite of mine:

• Billie Jean, Human nature, Vaarayo Vaarayo(tamil song from Aadhavan), Alla Hafiz, Gumm Sum Gumm(paa).

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

• A: 4300 exactly.

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

• A: That requires a series of posts 😀 😀 I like both veg and non-veg equally. There is nothing I dislike. Any food that doesn’t upset my stomach so that I can’t take my next meal is really fine.

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

• A: One way it made life so simple. I never thought about having a landline in my home 10 years ago and now I own a mobile and it’s a necessity too. But due to all the TV, internet’s I think the interaction between the people has reduced and also the most affected ones are children. So it’s us who must decide and take a call on how much it is necessary to us and how much usage won’t harm us.

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

• A: I think it’s already a big thing with each one writing a blog which makes as a diary to oneself. Of all the social networking things, I think the blog is the best and I must thank wordpress and blogger for hosting space for users like me and gives the freedom to express myself.

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

• A: I like to thank all of them for their support and encouragement. I enjoy reading their criticism and comments very much. I love you all and really to lucky find you all. Cheers to our blog samaj!!!