An Interview with Ohio Author Manjulika Koshal

Residing in Athens, Ohio, Manjulika Koshal is the author of Values that Shapes Us: Inspirational Stories and Quotes. Manjulika was a signing author at the December 2023 Hocking Hills Book Fair. I caught up with her and asked about her book, writing, and much more…

Welcome, Manjulika!

GM: What is the premise for your book Values that Shapes Us: Inspirational Stories and Quotes?

MK: I started the book with the simple hypothesis, do values acquired from one’s environment help shape one’s thinking and personality? I wanted to test my hypothesis and therefore started asking many of my friends and colleagues around and almost everyone replied that the values they acquired from their elders have helped them shape their thinking, their personalities, and their philosophy and each had a short story to tell. I then decided to collect the stories.

Hence the premise of my book is that Values acquired over the course of our lives, do indeed help shape our personalities and thinking.  

This book is a collection of inspirational stories of motivation woven around universal human values, norms, and codes of conduct. The stories are the lightening stars that provide depth and guidance for a new horizon to the readers. Viewed in this light,  the book has a unique appeal for all. It will serve as an effective tool of encouragement, inspiration and learning for many.

The second question that naturally arises is what is the book about? The book is divided into three parts and each part carries the same theme as to how values have helped shape the lives of the authors. 

The first part is a collection of fifty-two personal and true stories from people of every walk of life about their experiences and lessons learned of “values” that inspired them and which they got from their home and other elders and friends that helped shape their lives. Most of the contributors are known to me. 

Part II consists of true stories or anecdotes collected in my research and are about people who are celebrities as well as about the ordinary people. Part III are quotes on the same themes as Part I and II.

In a nutshell, the book is about values and how they shape lives. Values help to set goals and develop a world view that serves as a guide for people to navigate their lives. These values shape personalities and enable people to overcome obstacles and challenges by perseverance, hard work, determination and faith in themselves and others around them.

GM: What makes the book interesting and unique?

MK: The book is unique and interesting as it offers first person stories of people’s live experiences. Along with this, there are stories as examples of men and women who have had the courage to change their lives and inspire others, despite the struggles facing them. To these stories I have added quotes that have inspired me related to the issue of values. A combination of stories and quotes is a unique way to show the role of values in our lives. 

GM: What would you like readers to take away from this book?

MK: Readers might realize the importance of values, especially those passed on by their ancestors, through generations. The stories of individual struggles and values could inspire readers of all ages to think about their lives and how they could live more generously and in a large-hearted way.

Inspirations are the core of human existence. There are many ways that people get inspired. Sometimes there are certain personalities who inspire us, sometimes there are various customs and norms and sometimes the wonders of nature and our planet system provide us inspiration. 

For example, the discipline of the sun, moon, and the solar system - all working together in perfect coordination on exact timings each day, inspire us to realize the value of doing our duty truthfully and systematically and in compliance of our moral codes of conduct. 

George Bernard Shaw got inspired by the river and as a result he produced the famous poem, “Men may come and men may go, But I go on forever.” We imbibe these values that shape our thinking, our personality, and our course of life. 

Sometimes, our value systems, the universal code of conduct inspire us, and we unconsciously imbibe these values that are later reflected in our personalities and in our thinking. 

Viewed in this light,  the book has a unique appeal for all. It will serve as an effective tool of encouragement. It is meant to inspire, lift the spirits, and serve as food for reflection. 

GM: Who will the book appeal to?

MK: I hope the book will appeal to a wide spectrum of people of all ages. Young people might like to read stories of values that shaped their parents and grandparents. Older people might be curious about the experiences of other elders. And for those who are unwell, distressed, and suffering, I hope it will be a source of healing, encouragement, and inspiration to live with faith and hope. 

GM: List five things that you want your fans to know about you…

MK:

1.   I have taught for thirty plus years at Ohio university in the School of Business and in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan. My specialization is Operations Research and International Management. 

2.   However, I have published over 100 articles in various scholarly journals in a wide variety of areas such as Women in Leadership, the effect of TV watching on Eight grade children, Economics of Higher Education and on Environment and Health. 

3.   I also served as Director of the International Administrative Studies program at Ohio University, mentoring, and advising international students from many countries in the program. 

4.   I was also an active member of the American Association of University Women and served in various capacities on the local chapter along with on the AAUW Board for awarding the International Scholarships to deserving Women. 

5.   I was active in the Athens community, having raised funds for the Athens Food Pantry, a service for the needy and homeless. 

6.   My hobbies are gardening, reading, writing cooking,  travel and entertaining and socializing with my family and friends. I have a garden at my home, and I love to watch every morning to see new flowers blooming from the buds. 

7.   I have two children, and all are well settled. My husband also is an Emerita Professor of Economics at Ohio University. 

About the Author: Manjulika Koshal is a Emerita Professor at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. She taught both Graduate and undergraduate students at the School of Business for thirty years. A native of India, Koshal made Athens her home 54 years ago after she married her husband Dr. Rajindar Koshal, Emeritus Professor of Economics at OU. They have two children and six grandchildren. In her retirement, Koshal enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, socializing, cooking, and spending time with her happy family.

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