Challenging to produce humour for a broad audience base

Saurabh Tankha

This was the first time in over two decades of my journalistic career that someone I emailed questions about life, achievements, future plans and more… had the courtesy to reply with detailed answers—and even thanked me for taking an interest in his accomplishments.

That’s Rishi Piparaiya for you, dear readers. The founder of www.damned.com and author of the national bestseller Aisle Be Damned, Rishi has recently released his latest book, Job Be Damned.

Born to a Mumbai-based stockbroker, Rishi held C-suite roles at Aviva but eventually grew tired of the corporate rat race. In 2014, he took a three-month sabbatical to travel and write. He returned convinced that he wanted to change tracks and, a year later, quit Aviva to focus on his passion for writing, mentoring students, and working with start-ups.

Over the past few years, Rishi has published his second book, Job Be Damned, travelled extensively across the world, and collaborated with various start-ups and academic institutions.

A brief chat with the former strategy head of Citibank India…

The first time you felt the urge to express yourself through writing. What/who influenced you?

Some of my most vivid early childhood memories are of writing poetry and receiving appreciation from teachers. Writing in verse came naturally to me, and I continued it through college. Some of my poetry was humorous, and gradually I transitioned into writing humour and satire.

Professionally, I used to write satirical emails at work to diffuse tension—and they would often go viral internally. Even my PowerPoint presentations had elements of humour. So it wasn’t a conscious decision; it just flowed.

That said, I enjoy writing business articles, short stories, and children’s content as well. Writing is my most comfortable form of communication. Words seem to fall into place magically, and when it’s done, you look at a blank page transformed and wonder—how did this happen? That, in itself, is motivation enough.

Who has been the most inspirational person in your life?

I struggle with this question because I admire qualities in many people. My late father for his calmness and hard work, my mother for her simplicity and sincerity, and my bosses for various leadership traits.

But when it comes to inspiration, I think it comes back to me. I inspire and demotivate myself. I set my own benchmarks and judge my success or failure. When I had to dedicate my debut book, Aisle Be Damned, I eventually wrote, “This is for you, Rishi.”

With so many authors today, how difficult is success?

More than authors, the market is flooded with content—visual, audio, video, and books. Writers today compete not just with other authors but with platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for attention.

That’s not easy. But if more authors succeed, it means more people are picking up books—an activity that is gradually declining.

Ever struggled with writer’s block?

Yes, quite often. But I deal with it differently. For writers with deadlines, it can be challenging. For procrastinators like me, it’s less stressful.

I don’t force it—I shift to other activities. But when I get into the flow, I write intensely. I may write nothing for a month and then 20,000 words in a week. On average, it balances out.

How difficult is it to write humour?

Humour is subjective, which makes it incredibly challenging. I don’t always know what will work. What I find hilarious may not work for others, and what I think is mildly amusing may get the biggest laughs.

So I’ve stopped predicting. I simply document what I observe and let readers decide what they find funny.

Did your corporate career influence your writing?

Absolutely. Spending two decades in multinational organisations across roles—from junior to leadership—gave me a unique perspective on corporate life.

Every line in my book is inspired by real situations I’ve witnessed or heard about. While I exaggerate for humour, there’s always a strong element of truth behind it.

Why launch the book in Singapore?

As a former international banker, I have a strong network in Singapore. Many had suggested a book event there, and the timing worked perfectly.

Job Be Damned is written largely from a multinational perspective, and Singapore, being a global business hub, was a relevant location. Given the response, I’m considering a similar launch in Dubai.

Future plans

I’m constantly working on new ideas. My platform, www.damned.com, is growing with engaging humour and satire content.

I have multiple book ideas across genres and am increasingly involved in speaking engagements with students, entrepreneurs, and corporate professionals.