P.V. Ariel - My First International Writing Colleague My Interview

Table of Contents

My Interview With A Jewish Writer – Sheryl Young.

Happy Birthday, P.V. Ariel – My First International Writing Colleague

My Interview

Happy Birthday to Associated Content Writer P.V. Ariel on Monday, June 22nd! P.V. was the first international friend I made while writing online. Although I’ve been abroad three times, he has given me further insight through his writing into the thoughts of people outside America; how they live and how they feel about my own country.

Philip Verghese Ariel (called Phil by many) is a journalist and freelance writer from Secunderabad, India, and editor of a Christian monthly.

P V started writing in his native language, Malayalam, and later stepped into English.

Facing opposition from some family members to his writing aspirations, he stealthily nurtured this desire in his actions and thoughts.

Since P.V. is in India, this isn’t just a personal interview but also contains some interesting information about India from his journalist perspective. So read on!

P V Ariel - My First International Writing Colleague. ~Sheryl Young, The Jewish writer Click To Tweet

How did you start writing?

I first jotted down some thoughts in a poem in my school notebook.

My maternal grandmother found it and applauded me.

I started writing about incidents in my life and stories of other people and I sent one to a Christian publication called “Suviseshakan” (Evangelist), published in Tamil Nadu.

I received a reply from the editor, M E Cherian, a well known Christian poet in the Malayalam language.

“Your story is very good,” he wrote, “and will be published in one of the coming issues after a few corrections. Do continue to write and send.”

This encouraging note increased my confidence and that was the beginning of my public writings.

Did you ever want to be something besides a writer?

No. My circumstances made me have different types of jobs for a livelihood, but I continued to cherish writing and jotted down all my thoughts and feelings.

You’ve mentioned being a “voracious” reader from a very young age. How did you start hungering to read books, and what kind?

My father and mother were good readers and had a collection of books available. Some were my grandmother’s; most were religious.

So here too, my grandmother’s influence was a great impact on my life. Every day we had family prayer at our home and read the Bible.

Then I went on to enjoy newspapers, textbooks, and other books.

I later started reading collections of poems, novels and short stories of well known Malayalam writers from the library, and translations of famous writers from other languages.

I liked to read Shakespeare’s books and his writings influenced me a lot.

After the publication of my first article, I began sending regularly to both Christian and general publications.

I had everything from letters to the editor to articles published and became a regular contributor at two Christian weeklies, ‘Brethren Voice’ and ‘Suviseshadhwani,’ including reporting the messages of various preachers and events in the city.

Along with my job I completed a post-graduate diploma in Journalism in Hyderabad.

After that, I started contributing to different English publications.

Tell us the most memorable experience in your writing life.

Several of such memories come to mind; the first was meeting with Chief Editor “M E Cherian Sir’- that editor who published my first article.

Giving me a copy of the issue, he patted my shoulder and said, “Here, your article is published in this.”

And my association with a national daily (Hindu) in India played a vital role in my writing journey.

What was your first experience writing online?

I was not much aware of online publishing until 2007. When one of my colleagues – a computer wizard – suggested me to write online.

He told me to start a blog. I searched some web pages, found Associated Content (now Yahoo) and some other sites, and started writing here at AC!

In two days, they accepted my content. That was really a refreshing experience.

In short, this was my first online writing experience.

What’s your opinion about AssociatedContent.com?

I found many like-minded people here and started communicating with them. What a wonderful and new experience in my life!

The comments and suggestions I received were overwhelming and it gave me a boost to continue writing online.

A C is a lovely place to express your inner feelings through words that will catch a good audience and good traffic, even for beginners.

There are many contributors who post well-written pieces for the benefit of searchers and readers.

The AC Community and its Forum answer helpful questions.

Although AC keeps a different policy towards its Asian contributors, and I hope they soon re-consider, here is a Note of Thanks I published after the completion of my 100^th article.

What advice/quote or statement would you give your fellow writers?

Although Bible verses are always my own favorite resources, now I remember a quote from Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America.

My fellow, source producers should make note of this and try to practice it!

Here is the quote: “If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing.”

America has never forgotten Benjamin Franklin because he contributed so much as a scientist, inventor, statesman, printer/publisher, philosopher, musician, and economist.

May God help you all to keep up an iota of these words from Benjamin Franklin.”

What a great quote! Now aboutIndia. Does everyone automatically learn to speak English? Is it taught in school?

No. India is divided into different states and each state has its own local languages. In some states, especially the northern states, they emphasize education mostly in Hindi medium India’s national language.

Either Write Things Worth Reading or Do Things Worth the Writing ~Benjamin Fraklin via pvariel.com @pvariel Click To Tweet

Recently, some ministers and political parties raised an issue of banning English from the school curriculum but there was big opposition to it.

In India’s southern, central and east, with some exceptions, they insist on English from kindergarten level even in some government-run schools.

This is because English is universally accepted as an international language and most information in science, technology, art, and literature is mainly available in English.

Countries like China, Japan, and the Soviet Union give importance to English and are making rapid headway in science and technology. So our people are showing much interest in learning this unique language.

Do the newspapers in India cover what’s going on in America and theMiddle East?

Yes, of course, it’s definitely major news in Indian daily newspapers, especially in the English dailies. US and Middle Eastern countries are major news every day.

India’s people are keenly watching new developments in the U.S. since the Bush administration transitioned to Obama.

Is there any religious persecution in India?

Yes. India and its peoples (majority Hindu) have been famous for tolerance; but recently, some persecution has been happening in some states. I have written on this for Associated Content.

For example, my article Atrocities Against Christians Are Increasing Alarmingly– tells of the harassment Christians are facing in India, in some places even with the support of the administration. But in other cases, the government is a mute spectator.

An unofficial report says that around 50,000 persecuted tribal Christians are staying in different refugee camps. (More links to P.V.’s articles are given below).

Thanks for letting me pick your brain, P.V…Happy Birthday, and carry on!

(For more personal tidbits about P.V., see AC Source Donald Pennington’s first interview with him.)

Updated on February 24, 3019.;

Published on: May 18, 2012 @ 08:22

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More of P.V.’s (Phil’s) writing links:

My Dilemma With My First MasterPiece –http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/767889/my_dilemma_with_my_first_master_piece.html.

Atrocities Against Christians Are Increasing Alarmingly –http://www..associatedcontent.com/article/569857/atrocities_against_christians_are_increasing.html.

Pray for Our Nation, 1 & 2 –

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/542057/_pray_for_our_nation_the_need_of_the.htmland http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/654703/pray_for_our_nation_a_rejoinder.html.

Christians Are Under Attack Again in India by the Extremists –

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1126602/christians_are_under_attack_again_in.html.

Other places P.V. writes:

www.indiatoday.com;

www.thesundayindian.com;

www.outlookindia.com;

www.rediffmail.com;

www.the-week.com

A freelance writer since 1997; Featured Political Contributor for Yahoo!; Tampa Tribune Community Columnist/Blogger; Chicken Soup for the Soul; Amy Foundation National Writing Award; happy wife, proud step-mom… View profile

*Sheryl Young, Yahoo! Contributor Network*

AND HERE COMES SOME OF THE COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM READERS AND FRIENDS AT ASSOCIATED CONTENT PAGES:

52 Comments

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9 Comments

P V Ariel

Hi All My Visitors,
I am really sorry
some links here are
broken, I need to do
a repair work, please
bear with me.
meanwhile pl do check
this blog for the related contents
Thanks for your patience.
Best Regards
P V

May 18, 2012
|Reply
ajith

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May 18, 2012
|Reply
- P V Ariel
  
  Thanks a lot Ajith Sir.
  
  May 18, 2012
  |Reply
c.v.thankappan

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May 18, 2012
|Reply
- P V Ariel
  
  C V Sir,
  Thank you very much
  
  May 18, 2012
  |Reply
Philip Varghese Ariel

Hi Dear All,
This post is from the Archives of my page
Sorry there are some broken links, i need
to check it and fix it. Sorry for the inconveniences caused to you.
Have a Great and Wonderful Day :-) :-) :-)
Philips & Associates

March 20, 2014
|Reply
Swati

Hello Philip,
Good to know more about you and your online activities through Sheryl’s interview with you.
A well-presented interview, thanks for sharing this with us.
I would like to read about you and your web activities. I must say that I have learned so many things from this post as well as other articles posted on this website.
THis is my first visit to your website, indeed the pages are filled with lot of meaningful and educative posts. Keeep going!
Keep writing. Thank you so much.
Swati

March 16, 2019
|Reply
Moss Clement

Hi Philip,

That was an incredible interview. It helps to get to know you well. From publishing your first online content to quoting Benjamin Franklin, it is breathtaking. Well done!

March 16, 2019
|Reply
Jeffrey Shepard

Hi Ariel,

It is really good to know more about you and your activities online and a, part from your beginning of writing life. Very nice article. Really an inspiring one. Thanks for sharing.
Keep up the great work.

November 28, 2019
|Reply