From power plant instrumentation to journalism, entrepreneurship, authorship and now screenwriting, Lory Pattanaik’s journey is one of continuous reinvention. Her latest book, The City That Learns to Breathe, has brought her work into the spotlight after being launched by the Honourable Governor of Madhya Pradesh. In this candid conversation, she speaks about finding the courage to change, the people who shaped her, marriage, entrepreneurship and the discipline behind documenting human stories.
Q. You began your career as a power plant engineer. How did writing enter your life?
Lory Pattanaik: Engineering taught me discipline, systems and accountability. I spent 7.5 years working in the power sector, including erection and commissioning, and it was a completely different world from writing. But somewhere along the way, I realised I was equally drawn towards people, stories and communication. Journalism became my bridge into media, and eventually writing became a much larger part of my life. What started as a professional transition slowly became a calling.
Q. You have reinvented yourself several times. What gave you the courage?
I don’t think there is ever a perfect moment to reinvent yourself. You simply have to listen to yourself and take the first step. Moving from engineering to media, then co-founding Webodoctor and building a career as an author were all decisions that came with uncertainty. But I have learned that growth often begins exactly where comfort ends.
Q. Your latest book, The City That Learns to Breathe, was launched by the Honourable Governor of Madhya Pradesh. What does the book mean to you?
It is very close to my heart. Through contemporary fiction, I wanted to explore human emotions, vulnerability and mental well-being. Having the book launched by the Honourable Governor of Madhya Pradesh was an extremely special milestone. But beyond recognition, what matters to me is whether a story makes someone pause, reflect or perhaps feel less alone.
Q. You have interacted with personalities such as Dr. Kiran Bedi, filmmaker Prakash Jha and actor Boman Irani. How have they influenced you?
My interactions with them have been more than meetings; they have been learning experiences. Conversations around work, commitment and responsibility gave me a different way of looking at my own professional journey.
Their words are personally meaningful to me and cannot really be summarised in a few sentences. But one lesson I carry forward is that there is no right time to start. What matters is beginning with conviction, taking accountability for the work you choose and continuing with honesty, even when the journey becomes difficult.
Q. You have also written biographies and documented some of the legendary figures of Central India. What does that process mean to you?
Writing someone’s life story is something I consider a “Tapasya”. Sitting with people for hours, sometimes over several days, listening to their experiences, failures, relationships and turning points allows you to understand the many layers of a human life.
Most of my long-form projects take three to four months to complete. I have learned to divide my mind into different spaces one for my technology and business responsibilities at Webodoctor, another for writing, researching and shaping characters and narratives, and another for my family ( Specially my husband and daughter) .
It isn’t always easy. I often prefer sitting alone without any gadgets around , reading and investing time in my spiritual journey. That solitude helps me reconnect with myself. Every life story teaches me something about empathy, resilience and the human condition.
Q. How has marriage influenced your professional journey?
My husband and I came to Bhopal in 2016 with our respective career goals and a gamut of dreams, determined to leave no stone unturned in our personal and professional lives.
He is my rock. We have seen every high and low together.
Whatever he has built for our family is his hard work, and I take no credit for that. But I can proudly say that I have stood beside him and contributed in my own way to the person he has become. Where I am today is also because of Almighty’s blessings, the non-negotiable values my parents gave me and my husband’s firm belief and unconditional support that I could build my own path. But, what truly gave me the power to keep working non-stop is “ MOTHERHOOD” , our daughter who has been the “ Power Button “ in our life.
Q. You also co-founded Webodoctor. How has your team supported your individual writing and media work?
We are not a big team, but certainly an effective one. My partners have trusted my decisions and supported my individual work in media and writing. They have given me the space to pursue my creative work while continuing to build Webodoctor together.
That trust has been extremely important because entrepreneurship and creative work require different kinds of energy.
Q. What comes next for Lory Pattanaik?
Entering scriptwriting is a new beginning for me. I want to take stories beyond books and explore visual storytelling mostly working as a part Film Research team of Pre-Production.
Writing biographies has shaped my vision towards life, while fiction has allowed me to explore imagination and human emotions. Now I want to understand what happens when those stories move from the page to the screen.
For me, reinvention is not about becoming someone else. It is about having the courage to discover what else you can become. There is no perfect time to start there is only the decision to begin, and the commitment to keep going with honesty.
