I fear physical pain: SpiritualPanther

My name is Vinod Dave, originally from Chital, Gujarat and now I live in New York City since last quarter of a century.  I was born in Chital just a year after India became independent. I did my primary education in Chital, High school in Rajkot and two separate master’s level graduations in visual arts from M. S. University of Baroda and University of South Carolina, USA.

I am a professional visual artist and I exhibit my work in India, USA and Europe. I operate three separate blogs of my own (http://artandchocolate.blogspot.com/ http://vinoddave.blogspot.com/ and   http://cowdungcake-theblogthatbitesback.blogspot.com/ ) for various purpose and I regularly contribute to two blogs on Indian art (  http://indianartnews01.blogspot.com/ and  http://thisishowitshouldbe.blogspot.com/ ).  I do all the blogging by my literary name “spiritualpanther“.  My full profile could be viewed at:  http://www.blogger.com/profile/00850109157304640773 .  My interests include: art, photography, spirituality, philosophy, internet, galleries/museums, music, technology, cooking, travel, reading, cinema, observation and I collect experience.

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?

* Ans.: If I remember correctly, I am blogging since October 2005. In fact, I started writing comments on Indian Art News blog after there was so much hulla gulla about Tyeb Mehta’s painting was auctioned for over 1.5 million dollars in New York. Immediately following a long run discussion on that topic, a like minded individual started Indian Contemporary Art blog and invited me to join. Then eventually I started my own blogs and I have not stopped.

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

* Ans.: Though they seem to be about art, they actually include more than meets the eye. They are about criticism, politics, sarcasm, black humor and realities of life.

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

* Ans.: Readers are the main reason anyone would do blogging. I would not do it if it was not for my audience. It is very important to interact. I answer to all comments that require a response.

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

* Ans.: I do not maintain a counter on any of my blogs. But if you view my profile and profiles of all the contributors to all the blogs I am involved with, you could check how many profile views are there and that should provide some insight into the number of visitors to these blogs.

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?

* Ans.: I personally have not made any money doing this, but some of my co-contributors are generating extra income doing this. One day I might do it too when time is right.

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

* Ans.: There are too many of them. But Deepak Shehdadpuri is one of the bloggers I read regularly more than others.

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

* Ans.: Well, I have no secrets. I am still learning. I think anyone who does blogging is smart enough to lead his/her own way.

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

* Ans.: No, it does not complete me. Nothing completes me. I am not perfect or complete at all and never will be.

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

* Ans.: I have more gloomy moments than happy ones to count. I have seen many deaths in family and many losses in life. However I have gained spiritually from all those and I could count that as a blessing. But in the end all seems to be worth encountering in a lifetime.

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?

* Ans.: Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Giza in Egypt and areas Mayan remains South America. I am struck by the mystical aura around these places and I would definitely take with me Sue Lian Chin a-k-a Joanne Rivera. I do not have to give reason for whom I take with me, right?

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

* Ans.: I am a big time movie fan. Some of my all time favorites are (but not limited to) these movies: My Dinner with Andre, Sholay, Scarface, Thelma & Louise, Devdas, Run Lola Run, Pakeezah, Carmen, Fargo, Psycho, Mirch Masala, Pixote, Garam Hawa, In the Realms of the Senses, Teesari Manzil, Pather Panchali, Apur Sansar, Aparajito, Jalsa Ghar, The Pianist, Deliverance, The Midnight Cowboy, Calligula, Dancer in the Dark.

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

* Ans.: Blogging has not helped me in monetary terms, but it has helped me in networking. People from all walks of life know me by my sprirtualpanther literary name and most even know me personally now due to blogging.

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

* Ans.: Nothing. Even though I have regrets, I do not think changing anything could change anything. All is pre-set, karma, destiny.

Q: What is your deepest fear?

* Ans.: No, not death, but one thing I fear about it is: what if it is physically painful? I fear physical pain.

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

* Ans.: JFK.

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

* Ans.: TV sucks. My favorite music is: Indian classical music, select Bollywood music, Gujarati Bhajans of Sati Pan Bai, “Candy Colored Clown” by Roy Orbison, and select mantra chants.

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

* Ans.: $28.25 in cash and several thousand dollars in form of credit cards and debit cards.

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

* Ans.: Pani Puri, Sada Dhosa, Idali, Bhindi Masala, Gujarati rotli bread, Bhajia (pakoras), Undhiyu, Dhokla. I do not like French and Japanese food.

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

* Ans.: It does both. That is unfortunate. It should only make it simpler.

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

* Ans.: Well, I do not know. It could be or may be not. Tech world has many possibilities.

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

* Ans.: I would like my readers to know that they are special to me. I would also like Richard Gere to know that I am not only his fan, but my apartment window in New York faces his apartment window. So, Richard, next time you see me looking into your window with a binocular, know that it is me!