Comments on: How To Interview A Gay Writer http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/ Reading Writing Teaching Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:17:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Kangana http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-514 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 11:18:20 +0000 http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-514 I was just reading the interview in question and was quite baffled over the questions being asked and now I'm delighted that someone of a certain standing has actually brought the wretchedness in that interview. What is more astonishing is the fact that the restraint that Seth is exercising so clearly in his responses have actually prodded her into asking worse questions of the order of " I'm not sure I quite understand what bisexual means." Can you imagine the audacity and worse,the intention,of a person asking questions like that of another? I was just reading the interview in question and was quite baffled over the questions being asked and now I’m delighted that someone of a certain standing has actually brought the wretchedness in that interview. What is more astonishing is the fact that the restraint that Seth is exercising so clearly in his responses have actually prodded her into asking worse questions of the order of ” I’m not sure I quite understand what bisexual means.” Can you imagine the audacity and worse,the intention,of a person asking questions like that of another?

]]> by: Yesh Prabhu http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-506 Sun, 05 Nov 2006 02:36:51 +0000 http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-506 I am quite certain that in the near future scientists will identify the "Gay gene" in a paricular human chromosome, which will prove that sexual orientation is determined at cenception. I wonder how society will then react to the discovery: whether people will change their behavior and try to be more civil towards gays, and also learn to accept homosexuality as an intrinsic part of the wide spectrum of human sexuality. Now there is only a preponderance of evidence that there is a genetic link to homosexuality. When the scientists tag and isolate this gene, it will put all the doubts about the "cause and effect" relationship between genes and homosexuality to rest for eternity. Until that day, unfortunately, gays will suffer taunts and abuse from journalists such as Sheela Reddy. Yesh Prabhu, author of "THe Beech Tree" I am quite certain that in the near future scientists will identify the “Gay gene” in a paricular human chromosome, which will prove that sexual orientation is determined at cenception. I wonder how society will then react to the discovery: whether people will change their behavior and try to be more civil towards gays, and also learn to accept homosexuality as an intrinsic part of the wide spectrum of human sexuality. Now there is only a preponderance of evidence that there is a genetic link to homosexuality. When the scientists tag and isolate this gene, it will put all the doubts about the “cause and effect” relationship between genes and homosexuality to rest for eternity. Until that day, unfortunately, gays will suffer taunts and abuse from journalists such as Sheela Reddy.
Yesh Prabhu, author of “THe Beech Tree”

]]> by: devamrit http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-453 Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:19:59 +0100 http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-453 ummm.. shouldn't that title have read "How (not) to interview a bisexual writer"? ;)If I recall correctly Seth has always made it a point to acknowledge his desire for men and women, beginning with his poems in the early 80s to the 'partially gay' comment. I did find the interview questions acutely annoying, but then so is most maintream Indian media coverage of bisexuality, perhaps even more annoying than the coverage of homosexuality. Kudos to Vikram Seth and all supporters of the anti-377 petition, regardless of their sexual orientation or lack thereof. ummm.. shouldn’t that title have read “How (not) to interview a bisexual writer”? ;) If I recall correctly Seth has always made it a point to acknowledge his desire for men and women, beginning with his poems in the early 80s to the ‘partially gay’ comment.

I did find the interview questions acutely annoying, but then so is most maintream Indian media coverage of bisexuality, perhaps even more annoying than the coverage of homosexuality.

Kudos to Vikram Seth and all supporters of the anti-377 petition, regardless of their sexual orientation or lack thereof.

]]> by: elizabeth http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-452 Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:30:06 +0100 http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-452 clearly, Vikram Seth is not only a literary genius, but some sort of saint of good temper as well. a dear friend & I have been debating via email at which point, precisely, in that interview we'd have given in to the temptation to bitchslap Ms. Reddy. Amitava, I was glad to see your name on that list. The letter gave a jolt of hope and pride to a lot of people, if the joyful hullaballo in the inbox that weekend was anything to go by. and Teju: Seth has already had that kind of impact, I think, as has his mother's forthright discussion of his bisexuality in her memoir (and i believe in TV interviews relating to same). But this greater candor will certainly help even more. clearly, Vikram Seth is not only a literary genius, but some sort of saint of good temper as well. a dear friend & I have been debating via email at which point, precisely, in that interview we’d have given in to the temptation to bitchslap Ms. Reddy.

Amitava, I was glad to see your name on that list. The letter gave a jolt of hope and pride to a lot of people, if the joyful hullaballo in the inbox that weekend was anything to go by.

and Teju: Seth has already had that kind of impact, I think, as has his mother’s forthright discussion of his bisexuality in her memoir (and i believe in TV interviews relating to same). But this greater candor will certainly help even more.

]]> by: Teju http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-432 Mon, 25 Sep 2006 10:48:34 +0100 http://amitavakumar.blogsome.com/2006/09/24/questions-for-vikram-seth/#comment-432 Vikram Seth is a fine, dignified person, and the way he has refused to play along with the prodding, the insinuations, all these years past, is admirable. I imagine his candor (a candor that effectively deflects prurient interest) will be a tremendous help to a lot of young people in India and elsewhere. As for Reddy, careful there, Amitava. She might someday refuse to share a stage with you! Vikram Seth is a fine, dignified person, and the way he has refused to play along with the prodding, the insinuations, all these years past, is admirable. I imagine his candor (a candor that effectively deflects prurient interest) will be a tremendous help to a lot of young people in India and elsewhere.

As for Reddy, careful there, Amitava. She might someday refuse to share a stage with you!

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