Mandeep Meets Mandeep
Dr. Sona Sharma
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Dr. Sona Sharma. I am a medical professional, an author, and the founder of Screenout, a digital wellbeing initiative. I believe in bringing positive change by blending scientific rigor with a human touch.
I am also a dedicated advocate for blood stem cell donation and digital wellbeing.
My latest book, Mandeep Meets Mandeep, has been recognized in the 2024 MAMI (Mumbai Film Festival) Word to Screen Catalogue. My talks, podcasts, and events have encouraged over 120 individuals to register as potential stem cell donors, highlighting the real-world impact of this book.
My work has also been featured in the Global Impact Report of the International Stem Cell Organization, DKMS.
My science fiction and children’s books, which include science concepts, are aimed at making complex scientific information accessible and engaging.
Time and Tide is my mythological science fiction based on the lost city of Dwarka.
Mainstream publications such as the Times of India and The Week have highlighted my work in media articles. Outlook and the Deccan Chronicle have featured me as a recommended author for my insightful books.
I hope to continue connecting with diverse audiences, sparking curiosity, and driving meaningful change in both individual lives and the wider community.
What inspired you to write this book? What is it about and who is it written for?
Mandeep Meets Mandeep is inspired by the real-life story of Mandeep Singh, a student/farmer from Punjab, and Mandeep Mann, an IT professional from Bengaluru. When I read a newspaper article about a CML (a type of blood cancer) survivor and his namesake stem cell donor, I couldn’t help but write their amazing story. It resonated with me both as a writer and a doctor.
Of course, once I started researching, interviewing the various real-life characters, and visiting all the locations where the story is set, it became more than just a story of two Mandeeps. All the intertwined events, including a cancer train, a path-breaking judgment from the Honorable Supreme Court, a wonder drug that was called a magic bullet, the worldwide ‘Patents Kill Patients’ campaign spearheaded by MSF and other NGOs, and the environmental crisis that exploded in Bathinda and the surrounding areas, made their way into the narrative.
As a writer, it was extremely challenging but equally fulfilling.
The book has been enjoyed by all kinds of readers, young and old. Readers of medical thrillers and true-life stories would find it interesting, but it is a story for everyone. I have ensured that it is not heavy on medical jargon or scientific information. It is centered on the human aspect of the two Mandeeps, their challenges, and how destiny brought them together despite all odds.
What is the most enjoyable and most challenging part of writing the book?
The most challenging part was integrating the lives of two protagonists, both called Mandeep, over a decade-long period, along with all the national and international events that directly impacted them, without confusing the readers while keeping them engaged until the very last chapter.
The enjoyable part was meeting all the characters in person, interviewing them, and visiting all the places where the story is set, as it added a whole new dimension to my writing process.
What do you hope readers will take away after reading your book?
Mandeep Meets Mandeep is one of my most fulfilling projects. It was meant to raise awareness about blood stem cell transplant, which is still a definitive, cheaper option for a variety of blood cancers and disorders such as thalassaemia while newer techniques are being developed as we speak.
However, it is also a call to action regarding the environmental crisis we are all facing as the cost of progress.
Additionally, the hope, positivity, resilience, and courage that both Mandeeps show as they face massive adversity are inspiring.
Many readers have written to me about how the book inspired them; some registered as stem cell donors themselves after reading the book.
Where can readers purchase your book?
Amazon: https://amzn.in/d/028lXwqH