An Interview with Laxman, Beyond the Bots and the Banter

One glance at Laxman’s profile and you get the picture: the August Writing Contest’s landslide winner wears many hats in Fluent English, far beyond being ‘just a member’. 

He builds and runs many of the server’s bots, hosts events, creates content, and plays a big part in keeping the server buzzing with energy and humor– among other roles.

Having this interview with Laxman felt like talking to a friend at 3 a.m., with just the right amount of tipsiness: candid, reflective, revealing.

 In this spotlight, we get to see the person

 behind the wisecracks, the tech work, and the

 infamous ‘Need a Rich Wife’ badge.

On Winning the Writing Contest

Aarya: What were your honest thoughts when you found out you won the August Writing Contest?

Laxman: Okay. My honest thoughts were like… there were so many good entries. I don’t know, I saw the voting thing and people were voting for my story, and I couldn’t understand why they were doing that.

A: What makes you say that? Were you not feeling confident about your entry?

Laxman: Yeah, I wasn’t confident about my entry. I thought there were many entries that were more worthy of winning, or at least getting more votes.

A: Why do you think people connected with your story, “The Day I Bought My Nephew for 5000 Rupees”?

Laxman: I guess it's because, as an uncle, people might have these experiences with their nephews, like, just having fun? I mean it’s like having your own child without any responsibilities… you can just be their fun uncle and you can see them as, not just nephews, but as young friends… and they do that too… I don't know if it's just me… but I guess these dynamics are universal? You tell me guys, in the comments. 

A: How long have you been writing? What challenges do you face writing in English?

Laxman: I've been writing since,like, 2020 I guess…when I started my first English journal, specifically because nobody in my family could understand English. So it provided me privacy and daily practice. Then, I don't know, I just lost momentum, then I decided to start writing online…for my personal blog and stuff and some articles in LinkedIn…technical articles.

On Fluent English and Language Learning

A: Let’s talk about the Fluent English Community. You’ve mentioned that you’ve grown as an English learner ever since you joined, right?

Laxman: Basically, yeah. I used to struggle a lot. I used to stand back when speaking English with everyone. But now, I’ve gotten more accustomed to English conversations.

A: That’s great!

“When you meet people internationally, 

it’s like having a diverse data set.  

In real life, we only meet a narrow group. 

But here, you get to test your ideas and 

understand human perspectives better.”

Laxman: I remember my first conversations on the server included Marine and a fluent Taiwanese member in the afternoon, followed by a three-hour evening conversation with Terry. I remember thinking, wow, she could understand everything I was saying. That was a big thing for me.

A: How did that feel?

Laxman: It felt great. Like, finally, I could express myself and go back and forth in English without struggling.

A: What’s something you’ve learned about people from spending time in the Fluent English community?

Laxman: That you can’t judge anyone solely based on online impressions. Spending time on this server challenged some of my preconceived notions about different nationalities and cultures, revealing that 99.9% of people are genuinely nice and open-minded. 

A: That’s a great insight.

Laxman: Yeah. When you meet people internationally, it’s like having a diverse data set. In real life, we only meet a narrow group. But here, you get to test your ideas and understand human perspectives better.

A: You mentioned before that you’ve been a member of different servers. What keeps you coming back to Fluent English?

Laxman: The people, the conversations, the learning. Everyone has different perspectives. It’s interesting, it’s engaging, and it’s a place where I can be myself while also seeing how others think.

Laxman, Unplugged

A: Alright, let’s talk about something a little more personal. How do you think your friends and family would describe you?

Laxman: If you ask them to describe me, they’d probably say I’m funny. And neat. I like everything nice and tidy. Not in a controlling way, just organized. Like, they won’t touch my stuff without asking. They won’t even borrow my earphones.

A: So basically, “don’t touch my things.”

Laxman: Exactly! (laughs) Also, if someone calls and I don’t want to answer, I’ll just hand my phone to my mom. Or sometimes my brother gets the call.

A: That’s very millennial of you. Are you a millennial?

Laxman: Yeah, I am.

“When you find that one confident moment, 

it creates a domino effect for future interactions.”

A: Okay, this is a bit more serious — what’s a value or belief that you try to live by, even when it’s hard?

Laxman: Hmm… I’d say honesty. And responsibility. I try to do everything with honesty and a sense of responsibility… I like learning. I don’t always know if I’m right or wrong, but I stay open to change while still holding my own beliefs.

A: I can see that. You’re open-minded but principled.

    

When do you feel most yourself?

Laxman: I feel most myself when I’m completely focused on something I care about, usually when I’m working or creating. There are times when I get so absorbed in a task that 12 or 14 hours can pass without me noticing. I don’t feel tired, just excited. Everything clicks… My thoughts are clear, my decisions feel right, and I’m operating at 100%. It usually happens in the evening. That’s when I’m the most grounded, most balanced, and fully “me.”

A: Finally, what advice would you give to new English learners?

Laxman: Try to overcome your shyness in voice channels. The community is very accommodating and will help rather than judge. When you find that one confident moment, it creates a domino effect for future interactions.

Even beyond the bots, the events, and the jokes, Laxman is a reminder that a community is made richer by the people willing to show up as themselves, in all their quirks and perspectives. Talking to him, you get the sense of someone who’s genuinely curious, amused by the world around him, and always strives to be authentic. And in a space like Fluent English, that presence isn’t just welcome – it’s indispensable.

Written by @aarya