Chandan Deshmukh's new book explains the five lies your teacher probably used on you

Has a teacher ever told you that studying isn't in your genes? Or have they told you that you're a student and hence should do nothing but just study? Chandan Deshmukh’s teachers too told him these things. But luckily, this Bengaluru-based techie-turned-author was wise enough to realise that these were all lies. So, he decided to write a book to bust these lies for others too. After the release of his second book, Five Lies my Teachers Told me, we caught up with Chandan for a quick chat. 

Excerpts:

After Six Secrets Smart Students Don't Tell You, you've come up with another book for students. What was the inspiration behind this? 

Even though it's been years since I graduated, the memories of my student days are still fresh. I've always believed that we are not taught how to study. For most of the students, there is no life beyond studies. They do not know the proper way to channelise energy. There is a gap and these books are my way of bridging it.

Back in school, were you a know-it-all front-bencher or the fun-loving backbencher?

Neither. Have you ever seen the below average student who sits in the fourth bench, leaning against the wall? He gets help from the toppers and the pranksters make fun of him. That was me. I was called a butterfly by my teachers because my mind wandered all the time. My friends were studious, but I was the black sheep. I'd observe them all the time and because of that, later, I improved a little. But I never became a topper.

How did writing happen? 

It was coincidental and serendipitous. I used to scribble whatever I observed. So, I decided to publish it. Luckily, my manuscript was accepted by Westland. It's been a cakewalk so far.

Can you tell us a little about the book?

The book is a non-fiction that talks about a boy named Tarun. He's living through the lies and it tells us how Tarun transformed himself to be a better person.