Jack Kerouac’s all-time classic “On the Road” is a must-read for anyone trying to understand the importance of the road in the American psyche.

As the Publishers Weekly says: ‘Fans of Kerouac get the whole beautiful, groovy deal with this new recording of the radically hip novel that many consider the heart of the
Beat movement. Poetic, open and raw, Kerouac's prose lays out a cross-country adventure as experienced by Sal Paradise, an autobiographical character. A writer holed up
in a room at his aunt's house, Paradise gets inspired by Dean Moriarty (a character based on Kerouac's friend Neal Cassady) to hit the road and see America. From the
moment he gets on the seven train out of New York City, he takes the reader through the highs and lows of hitchhiking, bonding with fellow explorers and opting for beer
before food. First published in 1957, Kerouac's perennially hot story continues to express the restless energy and desire for freedom that makes people rush out to see the
world. The tale is only improved by Dillon's well-paced, articulate reading as he voices the flow of images and graveled reality of Paradise's search for the edge.’

But that was Kerouac. And it was the US.
We’re looking for our own Kerouac. Someone who can capture the look and feel of our roads and our people.

Go ahead, send us your story.

1. The story should be original and not more than 1000 words.

2. The story should be sent in a Microsoft Word document format (double spaced and in Times Roman 12 point) and sent only by
email to: unlock.bangalore@timesgroup.com . Entries sent by snail mail, fax, etc will not be considered.

3. There is no entry fee or reading charge.

4. Telephone queries will not entertained; if you need any clarifications, send the query by email to: unlock.bangalore@timesgroup.com with ‘Kathe Korner –II’ in
the subject line.

5. The decision of the judge is final and binding on all participants.

6. The Times of India reserves its right to reject any entry deemed defamatory, obscene or inflammatory in nature.

7. Employees of The Times Group are not eligible to participate in the contest.

8. The writer of the best short story as decided by well-known writer Anita Nair will get a gift hamper from The Times of India. The story will also be published in
The Times of India.

The contest closes on April 1, 2008 (12 noon IST).

Anita Nair is the best selling author of Satyr Of the Subway – Urban tales, The Better Man, Ladies Coupe and Mistress.
Her books have been translated into over 26 languages around the world.