09th October 2024, Megha Bajaj
50 Most Influential Authors of 2021, 25 Most Inspiring Women in Mumbai,
50 Self-Made Female Entrepreneurs in India
Megha Bajaj is a National bestselling author of several books, including The Breakthrough by Rupa Publication, which has sold thousands of copies to date. She is also a TEDx speaker and an ardent seeker.
She is the Founder of Wonders of Words (WoW), which has two important verticals:
- WoW Online Writing & Healing Program
- WoW 3L’s Program for Schools (which has touched 1,50,000 plus students and 10,000 teachers across six cities and counting). Check her website, www.MeghaBajajWoW.com.
Her journey as an author
At age 23, the first was Thank You, Cancer!, published by the world-acclaimed Hay House. It received extensive media attention from The Times of India, The Hindu, DNA, Dainik Bhaskar, and Mumbai Mirror. Later, the book was translated into two languages and nominated for the prestigious CrossWords Award.
Her next book is I Inspire, the story of Neerja Malik as told to Megha Bajaj, published by Jaico. It has sold thousands of copies to date.
The next is called One Woman, Two Advanced Cancers, Conquered. It is the pathbreaking journey of her mother, told she’d live a few days when she was diagnosed with Stage 4, Grade 4 Brain cancer, but miraculously went on to live a full life for a decade.
Her latest bestseller, The Breakthrough, published by Rupa Publications, created history. It had close to half a million people who attended the biggest virtual book launch during covid and has sold 18,000 plus copies
till date.
WOW!
WoW, 3L is a unique curriculum recognized as a pioneer in imparting life and social skills to youth. Several premium schools across India have incorporated it into their academic calendar due to its progressive features that make young minds future-ready.
Let’s Get Inspired
In Conversation with Megha Bajaj
– Preeti Juneja
Q1. “People may see me for who I am now, but I know the journey it took to get here.” Do you still reflect on the past as you move forward? What memories or experiences linger, no matter how hard you try to shake them off?
Growing up as the youngest (and most notorious) part of a 25-member joint family living at Nepeansea Road, Mumbai, had its say on me! Loud, opinionated, family who would suddenly turn silent as I would ask them uncomfortable questions about myself and Life.
One year, I would top the class; another year, I would sink to the bottom, leading to the nickname “Crazy Genius” from her exasperated teachers. Ironically, it was my English teacher who told me that I would never learn English. Fortunately for me, the sound of my own heart was always louder than anything else in the world. I went on to study English and Hindi Literature at Xavier’s College and script writing from Sophia – all of which added fuel to my love affair with words.
I was a college topper and a state rank holder and inspired many my age. I excelled in education without giving up my joie de vivre. The same teacher who told me I would not amount to anything wrote a letter to me when a full-page article on me was published in The Times of India.
Each of these has had a huge say in who I am today. Growing up in a joint family taught me one-ness, empathy and love not as concepts but as living reality. How else do you survive so many people and still keep your authentic self alive and kicking?
The inconsistent performance in school was because of emotional upheavals that I did not know how to tackle. My WoW 3 L’s curriculum was born out of this – as an answer to students to understand themselves and their inner world better.
Becoming a National Best-Selling author after being written off by my English teacher taught me that what you say to yourself is way more important than what anyone else does. To this day, that is my Life philosophy.
Q2. Share one of your greatest Breakthrough moments since you wrote the book The Breakthrough and mention you are a huge breakthrough believer!
We had the world’s biggest virtual launch for my last book, The Breakthrough (Rupa), during COVID-19. Close to half a million people attended, and this was only possible because of technology—social media marketing and execution. It was truly a breakthrough moment, and it helped me connect with a global audience.
The launch was a personal, professional, and spiritual breakthrough in every way. Here’s the back story. The book was at its final stage and ready to launch around May 2020, but that was when Covid struck, halting the physical launch as we had planned.
But we knew that the book was needed at a time like that, so we thought of a virtual launch on 15 August 2020. As the world really looked forward to a breakthrough at that time, we decided to make it the biggest book launch ever, but we didn’t know how. We learned that someone had done a virtual launch with 1 lakh attendees, and we wanted ours to be bigger than that. We worked towards getting 111,111.
When you really want something as big as this to happen with all your heart and for all the right reasons, the whole world conspires to bring it to you. We did everything possible, even partnering with one of the biggest platforms, BookMyShow. It was their first time doing a virtual book launch, as they have been mostly involved in movies, music events, etc. Nevertheless, we got around 23,000 registrations until the night of 14 August, which was phenomenal but still far from what we had envisioned.
I remember writing to my spiritual mentor, Mahatria, saying, ‘I have done my best; now you do the rest’- it was such a moment that I agreed to have done my best, yet the ‘comma’ signified a surrender that now you need to take over. The book launch happened as planned on the 15th of August evening, and soon after, we learned that 3,87,500 people had logged in which not only met our target but tripled it. It simply validated that God does the rest when you do your best. It was so incredible that it marks one of the best moments of my Life and a book launch that I will never forget.
Q3. As an author who never imagined becoming one, what does that feel like? What do you consider the biggest challenge when writing a book? How do you make the journey easier for those aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
I love being an author. It makes me happy. It feels as natural as breathing. Even right now, as I am typing this—and the soft click-clack of the keyboard—to me, this is meditation. I think a lot, I feel a lot, and to be able to share these with the world has been relieving, cathartic, healing, and empowering all at once.
The biggest challenge for me doesn’t come while writing a book. That is the easiest most natural and fun part for me. The biggest challenge for me is how to sell the book. Fortunately, I have created quite a community of readers for myself andclose to 10,000 of them follow me regularly through my social media… but the challenge remains of how to make a world that doesn’t read, read – and a world that loves reading, read this book.
Over time, I have realized that there are two types of writing- whenever you write just for the heck of it and the one where you actually pour all your emotions and write because you have a compelling story to tell.
There are pieces that I have written where I had to become one with my writing – I cried, I laughed… because I wanted the readers to connect and feel the same emotions. I often get emails and messages saying how it made them cry or smile…and that is one of my biggest achievements as an author. Recently, one of my personal pieces received a phenomenal response (Over 1 Lakh reads!). Would love everyone to read and share-
https://www.meghabajajwow.com/a-chronicle-of-miracles/
So, I tell all aspiring authors, to write from your heart and you will see the world being moved by your words!
Q4. What is the WoW Version? Who qualifies as a WOWer?
I believe each of us has within us a WoW version of ourselves that keeps evolving each day. As we go along, as we experience Life, assimilate our experiences—it changes us. It transforms us. To me, living Life as my best version is my WoW Version.
WoW Online Writing and Healing Workshop is open to anyone from Age 11 to Age 111 🙂 We have had youngsters who have joined the growing global community to get better marks, write better SOPs, and understand themselves better; and we have had senior citizens come to us with stories from their lives they would want to share. Of course, there is everyone in between that too. Entrepreneurs, leaders, corporate professionals, homemakers – anyone who feels they need week-on-week mentoring to become their best selves – using words as their power, join WoW.
The kind of results WoW has produced are immense. From non-writers becoming bestselling authors, from a homemaker realizing her passion is for designing and today becoming a looked up to kids luxury line designer, from people wanting to heal in relationships, to share their stories with the world – from corporate professionals wanting to become better leaders and communicators – we see some amazing tangible and intangible benefits of WoW.
Most writing workshops are not personalized, long-term, customized, or spiritual in nature. WoW is a breed of its own, and it is a matter of time before it becomes one of the most sought-after workshops for everyone seeking growth—or, in short, discovering and re-discovering their WoW version.
Q5. You’ve experienced many miracles in your Life, strengthening your faith in something greater. Do you consider yourself religious, spiritual, or a bit of both? Have you ever wondered why these miracles occur and discussed them with someone who shares a similar perspective?
In the article above, I shared the greatest personal miracle I have experienced, which has left many in tears and goosebumps. My definition of a miracle is something happening unexpectedly with surprising speed or synchronicity. I believe I am spiritual but not really religious—my spirituality is largely logical and science-based, with an element of innocence and surrender to a higher force that is actually making everything happen.
Professionally, too, a lot of my Life has been a series of coincidences and miracles. It wasn’t like I chose things; Life paved the way for things to happen. For example, people asking me to teach them writing led to the WoW Online Writing and Healing Workshop being born, and similarly, WoW 3L was born under a huge tree in Chennai when Gayathri asked me to bring something to her school – I think the next seed has come from the world too. A lot of directors and producers have started connecting and asking me if my articles, stories, or books can be converted into something for the silver screen.
My mind is now running in that direction, and many conversations are happening. We will see what comes forth, but it’s exciting because I think in images, and I think doing movies and web series is definitely the next stepping stone for me.
Rapid Fire
Q1. There is a #Lovemovement and #TheBreakthroughmovement, and next on your mind is?
A #SpiritualParentingMovement
Q2. What is your biggest breakthrough in Life?
There are too many to count, but the most recent one is giving birth to my daughter on 11.11.2023 (Infinitism Day and Choti Diwali). No matter how much I plan to have her born on such a sacred day, it seems like God’s grace!
Q3. Do you think people should write more in state-of-depression as a healing path?
Absolutely! They will not only heal but also find answers to their depression and a purpose.
Q4. How do you practice spirituality in your daily Life?
From a very young age, I have believed that all the answers to the world outside can be found within. This led me to seek spirituality in my teens itself. From books to masters, I sought it all – until I reached my beloved Guru, Mahatria, and the path He divined called infinitheism. His ways are contemporary and practical, and His wisdom is deeply rooted in rationality and Science. His teachings appealed to both the left and right brain, and by applying the formulae He gave for Life, I started seeing an integration of body, mind, and soul, leading to both peace and success.
Like many in the world, I used to believe that materialism and spirituality could not go hand in hand, but through Mahatria, I realized that this and that is not only possible but also desirable.
Everything we do in WoW is deeply rooted in spirituality. Many of us on the team are regular meditators and believe in getting ourselves right to get the world right. It’s very fulfilling to live Life in such a manner, and I firmly believe that everything I am and will be, I owe to my Guru. This helps me stay aspirational yet humble.
Something I have not missed for over two decades is sitting in the seat of Silence for at least 30 minutes. It helps me connect, heal, expand, and dissolve into something beyond me.
Q5. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I am an introverted extrovert. I live my life inside out and relate with people with whom I feel a natural connection and vibe. I tend to be gregarious and find it easy to converse with most people and learn something from everyone. Either how to BE – or how to not BE 🙂
One-liners
Q1.The WoW 3L’s Program, taught to students in schools, promises better results in Self Love, Love for others, Confidence Building, Empathy and Expressions.
Q2. To me, Happiness is as natural as breathing. We overcomplicate it!
Q3. The best place and time to write a book is At the coffee shop in Trident, Nariman Point. Many of my books were written there. The sea, the tea, and me – is a great combination!
Q4. My favourite author J K Rowling – for breaking every possible norm of reality.
Q5: My favourite movie based on a real-life story from a book is 3 Idiots.
DREAMWEB INDIA IS GRATEFUL TO MEGHA BAJAJ FOR HER VALUABLE TIME TO THIS REMARKABLE INTERVIEW. WE WISH HER SUCCESS IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVOURS.