"I started to write all my experiences in a diary."
A seven-year-old Indian girl from Bengaluru has written and launched her first book.
Titled L is for Lockdown – Jiya’s Journal of Lockdown Lessons, Jiya Gangadhar’s non-fiction book is about her experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, her mother inspired her to start writing creatively.
Jiya then began writing down her thoughts in a diary.
The stories were collated to form a non-fiction book aimed at children.
From Jiya’s point of view, the book details her interactions with the newspaper boy, playing online games as well as advanced topics like cybercrime.
The book is divided into chapters and it reveals Jiya’s exciting and not-so-fun experiences with her family throughout an entire year of online homeschooling.
It also details Jiya’s ways of dealing with uncertainty in this new way of life.
The Indian girl explained that online classes began as soon as the lockdown was announced.
Because she was at home, she had a lot of free time. This gave her the opportunity to delve deeper into each moment, which she would not have been able to do if she had gone to school.
Jiya said: “When the lockdown was announced, I started the online classes.
“As I was at home, I had a lot of time to spare.
“It gave me time to delve into each routine moment, which I couldn’t have done if I were to go to school.
“As my parents were also there at home, I could immediately speak to them and clear my doubts.
“I started to write all my experiences in a diary. When my mother read the diary and mooted the idea of making a book out of it, I was thrilled.
“After the book got published and when I saw it on Amazon it was the happiest moment for me.
“I loved it when my classmates and teachers congratulated me!”
Jiya credits her teacher Divya AS for getting her book published.
Divya reportedly helped to find Delhi-based publisher Blue Rose Publishers.
The non-fiction book is available on Amazon India for Rs. 158 (£1.50).
Sreepriya Unnikrishnan, Principal at Ekya School JP Nagar, said:
“We were happy to see a book authored by one of our students getting published.”
“Jiya had imbibed a good habit of writing her diary daily and the effort of her mother to recognise her passion for writing is really appreciated.
“As soon as Jiya’s parents informed us about the book, our faculty came forward to help them with the publishing house.
“Today, the book is being appreciated by everyone. We always encourage such exceptional qualities in children.”
Jiya is now currently preparing to write her second book.
On her plans for the future, the Indian girl added:
“I want to continue writing and become an author when I grow up.
“Also, I want to become a YouTuber and do vlogs on gaming.”
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