This post was written several years ago, during one of my earlier attempts at launching a website. As I revisit it now, while preparing to publish my new personal website, it feels like an emotional salute to my enduring spirit of writing.
Back then, I was building a site called thewriterfriends.com. It was born from a dream—to bring together the vibrant community of bloggers I had once shared a platform with on Sulekha.com. As that once-thriving space slowly lost its charm and its writers drifted to other platforms, I felt compelled to recreate that sense of belonging and creativity we once had.
I tried running the website for almost a year—wholeheartedly, and even with help from professional promoters. But despite my efforts, the dream slowly faded, and the site was eventually abandoned.
Before that, while working in China, I had launched another venture—beyoulin.com—a bilingual English-Chinese website meant to connect Indian friends and Chinese readers. That, too, was short-lived. The cultural and regulatory complexities of operating in China, especially as a foreigner, proved to be insurmountable.
Now, as I begin this new chapter with my personal website, revisiting this old post feels fitting. It marks a moment of reflection, a recognition of how far I’ve come, and a tribute to the persistence that kept bringing me back to writing.
Originally written before launching thewriterfriends.com:
*“Miles to go…”—that’s how it felt when I first began rebuilding my online space. Some of you might recall how the idea first took shape in 2015, during my time in China. With a growing base of Chinese readers, I thought I could create a meaningful platform—Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai—inspired by the spirit of cooperation between the two nations.
That dream didn’t materialize, and perhaps that was for the best. But the idea never left me. Over time, I lost the thrill of sharing my thoughts online. Platforms like Facebook lacked the depth and engagement I once cherished. Then, in November last year, while meeting a web designer for my son’s wedding invitation, the thought returned. I bought a domain name on the spot. Though the project stalled for a few months, I finally resumed work on it in early 2020—just as the pandemic lockdowns began.
Delays continued, but I never gave up.
Now, the site is finally up and running. Most of the groundwork is done, though some features—like a discussion forum (as suggested by Geeta Kashyap)—are still in progress.
The editor on the site is advanced, but don’t let that intimidate you. You won’t need to adjust any settings unless you’re curious to explore them.
At this point, I simply invite you to join me—help me discover bugs or hiccups, and share your thoughts on how to improve the experience. I’ll do my best to incorporate your suggestions.
A New Beginning, Meant to Last
Unlike those earlier attempts, this new website is not just another project—it is my personal space, a digital home for my thoughts, memories, poetry, and experiences. Every word here is part of my journey. This time, I am not building for a fleeting trend or a temporary audience. I am building for keeps.
This space will continue to grow as long as I do.
These words will stay as long as I stay on this planet.
And long after I am gone, perhaps they will still whisper to anyone who stumbles upon them.
If you’re reading this, welcome.
This is my world.
And you are part of it now.