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An
Stephen
R. Graubard:
What
can one
say,
in brief
compass,
translations
in the other
not be able to tell you very much. Yet Iwould languages is so much and literary criticism in each of these literature
languages. Graubard: is read by one group may not Yes, that is true. What be read by others. But what about Indian English literature?writers
like Anita Desai, who is writing a short essay for us, Mulk Anand, and Vikram Seth?
Narayan: Anita Desai and Vikram Seth are good writers.
Raj
I very
much enjoyed reading The Golden Gate Bridge. In fact, I reviewed it.
Graubard: Narayan: What I don't about poetry in English? poetry. I confine myself to old read modern
in English, is it very
Narayan: It is difficult tomake a judgment. Publishers bring out all kinds of things inEnglish. Iget books from publishers, particularly
American publishers, asking for my opinion. But most of the stuff is
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writing
interest
StephenR. Graubard
Since there appears to be a market abroad for Indian
Graubard:
I don't know about other forms, but in fiction, I think, Narayan: there is a lack of judgment. I base this impression entirely on what the
publishers send me.
Is the treatment of books meant for the Indian Graubard: market different from those intended for a foreign market? I don't know; I don't think about it. Narayan: Graubard: Indians?
Narayan of course, Mysore. of the state.
don't even know the whole of Karnataka, though I have visited all
parts I have written
My fiction is set inmy own background, though Malgudi is imagi nary.Malgudi is fixed in the 1930s, and that gives me extraordinary freedom. I can even put a lighthouse there if Iwant to, though there
is no coast Graubard: near Malgudi. Do you read reviews of your books? To what extent
them, but they do not bother me. Critics say that I don't talk of the
aspirations through, interested and of the political the people, agony that we all those plans for economic growth. in human in that. I am interested characters of have gone I am not and their
background. That
entertaining,
I want
a story to be
enjoyable,
in some way.
I visited the towns of Belur and Halebedu yesterday Graubard: and found them absolutely fascinating.
Narayan: Yes. You must have noted that much of Indian art is
anonymous. Perhaps that ishow it should be. I like awork of art that has a life of its own independent of its creator.When Iwrite, Iwrite formyself. While writing, I don't think of readers' reactions. A book,
a piece of writing, even a paragraph, has an organic life of its own,
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and people are free to view it in any manner they like. Iwould like to be free of responsibility formy fictional characters.
Graubard: cism, that you I am interested to know are not much moved, that you rarely read even by harsh criticism. criti
Narayan: As I said, I do not read criticism because I do not want to be self-conscious. Perhaps the whole basis of life is to be oneself
and not to be self-conscious. next. But When it grows I am writing, as Iwrite, I don't read much I read it at
I have written
you
in the
sit down
I have a general idea of what Iwant to write, but the Narayan: details come only when thewriting is in progress. They well up from some depth within me.
Graubard: Narayan: Do Yes. you also read nonfiction? science subjects, travelogues, and
Biography,
life, your thinking, your writing? I do not think so, though I do travel a lot. I go to Narayan:
Europe for pleasure, but also to work, to see my publishers. They are
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may
Stephen R. Graubard
travel fifty miles to meet other Indians and have Idli or Dosai. in
New York you have Americans living on West 23rd Street who do not know what life is like onWest 25 th Street. I used to go to a store on 23rd Street to buy my provisions; the storekeeper had never gone beyond 23rd Street. Every time he met me he said, "Itmust be fun going through Times Square at night. Someday I'll do it."
Graubard: Is the difference between Westernized, modern India
life in the home may be different from life outside. One can be
outside.
Do you yourself put a great deal of emphasis on the Graubard: differences between traditional India and modern India?What do you feel? Narayan:
ground That makes about does
It is a different society.
Graubard: Narayan: Calcutta What Iwas about Calcutta? for a while some years ago. I liked it. are some impressive old build in Calcutta
is an interesting
city. There
ings. Calcutta has a great deal, but of all the cities I likeMadras. Graubard: Apart from the fact that you like New York, and Paris, why do you likeMadras? London, I like Madras because Iwas born there and because in Narayan: Madras the ancient and themodern coexist. Madras is both old and
new, lots of things there?drama, lectures, theatres, are very or concerts. Some Madrasis discourses, religious a traditional thodox. There are parts of the city where people with and you musical can find
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background in Sanskrit are still living. I like talking about Madras much better than talking about India.
Graubard: What book are you writing now?
Narayan: It is a novel, The World of Nagaraj. It is being serialized inFrontline, published by theHindu newspaper group. The
novel is in progress; some eighteen installments have come out.
is your day like? I get up at the stroke of eight. Iwake at four or five, Narayan: but I do not care to get up before eight. Iwould like to sleep till nine, if possible. Ihave breakfast at eight-thirty and then some pooja, some Graubard: What
prayer and meditation for an hour. Iwrite from three-thirty to about