Gajapati Kulapati 2 - the Problem with Sequels

The GK prototype

Gajapati Kulapati was not meant to be published. Originally. Meaning, I wrote it almost impromptu, for the book reading sessions Tulika publishers were delighting children with, those days when they also ran this exclusive bookshop for children. I was Tulika's art editor, not the regular sort of literary editor, but the Tulikan space inspired writing, and I had playfully written short stories and stuff.

Sandhya Rao wrote a story and I wrote one. And a good time was had by all kids, including us big ones. Radhika Menon, head of Tulika, asked me to draw the pictures in a giant picture book to be used in the sessions. On your right, Folks! ==>

That was more than a decade ago. Gajapati saw the light of publishing day,eventually, and the book that Sandhya wrote is the bestselling 'Sunu Sunu Snail: Storm in the Garden,' illustrated with love and affection by, who else, me.

Coming back to the sequel problem. We all know what happens to most sequels. Not always as good as the first one. Rarely better than the first. I didn't want that to happen to poor Gajapati and his readers.
The first story took half-an-hour or an hour to write, I don't remember how long, but the second took two years to work up the courage to do it, and a week to write. I wanted to do it right the second time too. I guess that responsibility contributed to a block.
So the moral here, gentle folks, is that, when you do a fun book, don't be serious. Play while you play! For your patience, I thank you, and give you a sneak preview of two pages from the forthcoming book.