write ideas: Dalal does thorough research for his books, even studying the flora and fauna of his settings

With his secret desire festering within him, it was only a matter of time before Dalal took the plunge. Three things provided the impetus for him: his desire to make people read the words he has written, his love for the outdoors --be it trekking, windsurfing, sailing or scuba-diving --and the knowledge that there are very few stories for children set in the beauty of India.

"There were no adventure stories for children in India, set in situations and places they identified with. I realised I could fill this niche," says Dalal.

In the process, he created India's own version of the Hardy Boys, taking people to some of the most scenic destinations in the country. His books are a wealth of information on flora and fauna, the ecosystem and the world of adventure sport. They may be labelled children's books, but all age groups can read them because of the gripping style and high information content.

In the words of C S Lewis, "A book worth reading only in childhood is not worth reading even then." Dalal's books endorse this viewpoint.

Dalal spends considerable time on research, identifying wildlife researchers, spending time with them and getting his facts right. His latest book, which he confesses was a difficult one to write because of the technicalities of switching to a brand new story in the middle of another one, took four years to research.
Dalal's journey as a writer began in 1990, on a windsurfing expedition to Lakshadweep.
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The coral atolls, the beautiful reefs and the crystal-clear water were inspirational, and he set his first story, Lakshadweep Adventure, in this locale. Since then he has written eight books set in Ranthambore, Ladakh, the Andamans, and his latest books is set in 19th century Mumbai and the Sahyadris.

It may sound prolific, but it has been a struggle. He spent 10 years juggling his life as a chemical engineer along with his writing ambitions. It was only in 2000 that he switched careers to full-time writing. "I have a supportive wife, who made the decision easier for me," says Dalal.

Not all the places he visits work out for him. He has explored Sikkim and Mudumalai but was unable to find a story in those places. The process of writing is arduous. "It is a paradox," says Dalal. "A writer may want to communicate with the whole world through his books, but in order to reach that objective, he has to cut himself off from the rest of the world first."

He maintains that in order to be successful, you need strong self-belief as well as consistency over a long period of time. Now Dalal is recognised as a path-breaking writer in the field of children's books, which are read as rapid readers in many schools.

As Roald Dahl has said, "And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."Dalal creates that magic.