Lunch in New Delhi
This is a torn poster on a Delhi wall. I took this picture on my way to lunch with Jai Arjun Singh whose report about that afternoon appeared in the Business Standard today:
In the preface to his celebrated literary memoir Bombay-London-New York (2002), Amitava wrote: “This book bears witness to my struggle to become a writer.” Today he is a respected literary figure (and an outstanding reader) but one gets the sense that the struggle to write, to understand how to write, is an ongoing process for him. This theme is echoed in Home Products, the story of a journalist, Binod, trying to write a film script about a murdered poet, but exploring a number of other stories in the process. “I’m convinced,” Amitava tells me, “that the only story I have to tell is the story of how to find the words to put down on the page. At the end of Home Products, the reader should see that the book Binod was trying to write is this very one, the one the reader is holding.”
Also linked here.
I like Mr. Singh’s interview. He elicited good comments, if elicit he did. I mean, perhaps your comments just flowed on the tide of jet lag and your book launch. The comment about geography on the wedding night makes me want to read the book. What’s that about silence being peculiar to fiction? You are talking rot. Elsewhere, good, however.
Comment by Hap — March 21, 2007 @ 1:39 am
Hi Prof Kumar! I’m so excited to read your book: it’s definitely first on my post-thesis reading list. I liked this interview and the review. I esp liked what you said about trying to steer away from some of the more irritating aspects of academia. See you in a week!
Sincerely,
Carolyn
Comment by Carolyn — March 21, 2007 @ 4:09 pm