KNOW YOUR AUTHOR - In Conversation with Tuhin A Sinha

Tuhin A Sinha is among the most prolific young Indian writers today. With three consecutive bestsellers he has proved that he is the man  who has always attempted different genre in his each book. While That Thing Called Love was a story about the dark side of relationships, set in a Mumbai monsoon, 22 Yards can aptly be called a “cricket thriller”, written in first person by a fictitious Indian captain and with Of  Love and Politics, Tuhin has attempted an unusual story of relationships involving three Indian politicians, subscribing to different ideologies. The new feature 'Know Your Author' is kick starting with a tete-a-tete with this young prolific writer in conversation with another upcoming author Shaiju Mathew.

Congrats on your latest novel “Of Love and Politics”. How has been your journey till now from ‘That thing called love’ to your latest ‘of Love and Politics’?

 Thank you.. tough but equally satisfying.

Unlike other authors, you have taken different subject every time. Is there any particular reason for that?

Guess I wanted to be seen or known as a prolific writer. Besides, I need to attempt something different and new all the time. Or else I feel I’ve let myself down.

So what inspired you to write your latest novel?

After That Thing Called Love and 22 Yards, I knew I had to attempt something grander. Politics, religion and/or ideology are issues that seem impersonal and relatively inconsequential in our daily existence. And yet sometimes, the influence cast by them is such they make or break personal bonds.

Of Love and Politics is an unusual love triangle between three young Indian politicians. The book plays with some interesting ideas:

That ideological differences do impact personal bonds…

That Indian politics tends to be largely promiscuous – perhaps a fallout of being over-democratic. As such alliances are entered into and broken pretty much conveniently out here.

Paradoxically enough, in the book, a similar making and breaking of personal alliances takes place between Aditya Samar Singh(Congress MP), Brajesh Ranjan( BJP MP) and Chaitali Sen( CPI-M activist).

It will be significant to note even though the story is fictitious, it generously employs a whole gamut of real incidences which have occurred in recent years and which have had the potential to be a bone of contention between two thinking individuals. In its rather unsuspecting way, the book tends to fix up responsibility for some of our biggest political blunders post Independence.

Out of your three novels which one was the most difficult to write?

Of Love And Politics.

From ‘Saas-Bahu’ serials to writing novels how did the transformation happen?

 I think the fact that I was never too deeply entrenched in the TV industry, made the transformation easier. There was lesser unlearning that I had to do.

What is the difference in writing for a serial and a novel?

There’s a huge difference. Writing a serial or movie tends to be a collaborative effort. A book is a one man show all the way.

How was your growing up years? How did your family react to your decision to become a writer?

I was a typical Piscean dreamer who just knew that he wouldn’t be doing a 9to 5 job. So at different stages of my growing up years, I’d want to become a cricketer, an actor. Writing happened much later and in any case most writers become writers by default. My parents were apprehensive initially. Now, they’re happy I took the plunge.

Have you ever taken any inspiration from your life while conceptualizing any character or any incident in your books?

In my case,  it happens at a subconscious level without even realizing it at the time of writing. Its when I read the stuff that I’ve written that I discover the similarities.

Who are your favourite authors?

Milan Kundera, Mohshin Hamid, Manju Kapoor.

Do you think India has become a huge market for reading books? If yes, then what has influenced this change?

Absolutely. Several factors have influenced this change.  One, mass marketing of low priced books;  two, easy availability of these books as the number of retail outlets has increased manifold; three, the erosion of that section of pretentious  readers who tended to be dismissive of Indian authors. 

What’s your take on Indian writers using colloquial language in their books?

It works well if done judiciously. Excessive usage of such words defeats the idea of writing in English.

What is that one thing about you that your fans don’t know about?

That every time Naxals kill a hundred odd soldiers of ours or when an Adarsh Housing scam breaks out, it gives me a sleepless night.

What are your future projects?

Another novel called “The Autobiography”.  I’m working on a film script too but that’s too premature at this stage to talk about it.

How is writing as a career? Do you recommend aspiring writers to take up full time writing?

It requires a hell lot of discipline.  As with any other profession take it up only if you’re convinced that that is what you want to be in life.

What is your message to our today’s youngsters?

Be discerning in whatever you do and do it with a lot of conviction.

How do you describe yourself in just one word?

Let a fan answer this one.