Creativity and Camaraderie

Facility management consultant and motivational fiction author Suhas Inamdar and his significant half Sanjana enjoy a unique partnership that seamlessly extends beyond the four corners of their home—into the realm of creativity and imagination. You see, Sanjana is also the editor cum proofreader, his creative director and sounding board for all his books. With grown up kids who have flown the nest, the duo is having the time of their life-curating beautiful words for their readers to savour.

And you thought life and marriage are exciting only at the outset?

Even as Suhas Inamdar comes up with his latest work in his chosen genre of motivational fiction, he chooses to discuss the plot and dialogue with his wife Sanjana, who doubles up as editor and sounding board.

In a world of fly by night relationships and easy come, easy go, here’s to a relationship that is mature, mellow and yes, motivational—in more ways than one. Not only has the duo explored different frontiers in the professional space, but they have done so on their own terms, keeping intact the values they both hold dear.

While Suhas, an electrical engineer by training is a facility management consultant with clients across the world, he started writing professionally 12 years ago in a genre he believes much can be done, namely motivational fiction. Since then, he has brought out several memorable works keeping the four values of motivation, success, happiness and philosophy front and centre. “My first book, Power Games of Life, came out in 2013, followed in quick succession by a book for each subsequent year. It was only during my sixth book, The Second Chance, that Sanjana—with her yen for good language, keen observation and vast reading joined me as editor. She became my sounding board and I realised I didn’t need any professional to do it for me,” he expresses.

Don’t seek happiness outside. Instead, just focus on keeping your partner happy. Share and care—whether it’s resources or responsibilities

- Suhas Inamdar

And to think Sanjana is basically an academic with a Masters in Mathematics!

Despite having been married for so long, the duo avers that the experience of writing and editing books helped them bond on a different level. “It’s wonderful and enriching,” says Sanjana.

Their story was first scripted when they were introduced by friends and family in the nineties. Despite being opposites, their core belief in the institution of family and respect for culture meant the conversation between them flowed seamlessly. “We are Maharashtrians born and brought up in Hyderabad, and thus speak both Telegu and Marathi well. What’s more, we both believe in the importance of keeping our language and culture alive and passing it on to our kids,” says Suhas.

From strength to strength

Since they have already crossed the silver jubilee years, what as per both are the pillars of a relationship? “In a word: friendship. From friendship comes respect—and keeping in mind that no matter what the differences, they can be worked through keeping your partner’s self-esteem intact,” says Suhas.

On her part, Sanjana emphasises the value of trust, frequent communication and honest expression. “I am lucky that after my mom, he’s my best friend,” she adds.

Suhas adds it is important to have shared goals and to constantly focus on the larger picture over small skirmishes.

When conflicts arise, one partner must keep the peace and take a backseat. “It helps that neither of us usually has strong, militant opinions on anything,” he says. That said, he says, marriage at its core is all about tolerance. "This is the one golden quality that can restore peace and save relationships. It is seen as a weakness these days. It’s far from that, actually," he adds.

If he had to sum up his wisdom for younger couple, he would say: “Don’t seek happiness outside. Instead, just focus on keeping your partner happy. Share and care— whether it’s resources or responsibilities.”

Despite being successful entrepreneurs, Suhas and Sanjana firmly believe that life is much more than money and power—two things that seem to move the world for most folks—and their books reflect that core value.

Here’s how it all started. “We were in Singapore on holiday—and it dawned on us how this very cosmopolitan, business-like city—a melting pot of assorted cultures is in essence a very money-minded place. There is only one parameter to judge a person-money. Extend that a bit, and this definition includes power. Those who don’t have money and power are seen as nothing. We were also shocked to see elderly people waiting tables,” recounts Suhas. “That’s how I thought of bringing out books that are reflective of timeless human values and relationships,” he says—a traditional Indian take on life.

"We trusted them (kids) to take their decisions, put in the due diligence and follow their hearts. They are happy in what they are doing and that’s good enough for us"

- Sanjana Inamdar

Parenting’s like that

While their kids are young adults today— Sagar is pursuing his masters in Accounting and data analytics in the US and daughter Sampada is in the UK studying Masters in service design—Suhas says that they followed a simple mantra with the two whilst they were growing up. “We simply encouraged them to follow their heart and not the herd,” he says.

For instance, Sanjana adds, they knew little about the career of chartered accountancy that Sagar wished to take up—or for that matter service design—a very new age career. “But we trusted them to take their decisions, put in the due diligence and follow their hearts. They are happy in what they are doing and that’s good enough for us. To say nothing of the fact that we trust them never to deviate from the path of honesty and integrity,” she says.

Quality time for this family consists of taking trips together—both as a couple and with kids. “Last year, we did this wonderful road trip down south that spanned Bengaluru, Hampi and Coorg. We were on the road 12 days and covered 2,504 Km—and it was a fascinating experience,” says Suhas.