Understanding Economics

Ashok Sanjay Guha speaks on his latest book Economics without Tears: a New Approach to an Old Discipline published by Penguin Random House India, which is revelation of economics to the layman, demonetization drive and more.

Photo Credit: http://www.montana.edu/econ/images/economicswordcloud.jpg 

Talks on economics might go over your head if you do not that background. But what if it is made easy for you without giving you grief? That is what Ashok Sanjay Guha has done for you in his book Economics without Tears: a New Approach to an Old Discipline. It is economics revealed to the layman without the difficult language or jargons to confuse you. Right from basic theories to some in-depth ideas, Guha makes sure every reader connects with economic concepts easily. It is published by Penguin Random House India.
Professor Emeritus at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Ashok Sanjay Guha has been with this institute since its beginning as a professor of economics. A visiting professor prominent educational places the world over, he has written in important write-ups in leading economic journals, he has also written An Evolutionary View of Economic Growth.

Did any experience made you think of writing this book to demystify economic jargons for the public?

The book is the outcome of my classroom encounters with bunches of very bright students whose primary interests lay outside economists and who were terrified of maths.

What aspects can we expect in this book? How have you tried to cover them?

The book introduces economic theory to the general reader, starting from first principles, avoiding Maths altogether and seeking to capture his interest right from the outset by emphasizing the applicability of economic principles to areas outside conventional economics. In the process, it clarifies even some of the most advanced and contemporary concepts in economic theory without using mathematical methods or jargon.

There might be books out there on similar lines. How will yours differ?

As far as I know, there are no other books that try to give the general reader a glimpse of the entire canvas of economic theory. There are of course similar books that touch upon specific areas of the subject. There are also very popular & entertaining books that apply economic methods to a wide range of problems. One such is Steven Levitt’s international best seller, Freakonomics. It asks a variety of strange questions and uses the data analysis methods of economics to come up with extraordinary answers. However, it does not explain the econometric theory behind these methods so that, to the reader, Levitt appears to be a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat. EWOT doesn’t ask such exotic questions.  It doesn’t ask “What do school teachers have in common with sumo wrestlers?” or “Why do drug dealers live with their moms?” The questions it asks are more conventional, though no less puzzling. And it makes the economic theory behind the answers crystal clear, so that the reader can answer similar questions on his own.

Book Cover

Do you feel there should be more such books in India?  

There is certainly a gaping hole in the literature in this area, but I am hoping that EWOTS will gather enough readers to fill the gap.

With the demonetization drive, do you feel we are on the right track despite teething problem?  

Unlike most economists, I believe that demonetization, coupled with the government’s subsequent measures discouraging cash transactions and incentivizing digitization, are positive steps, despite their potential short term economic costs. High-value notes have always been the preferred medium of transactions in criminal activity, terrorism, smuggling of drugs, arms and other contraband, commissioning of murder and other contractual crimes, bribery, prostitution and sex-racketeering, under-the-counter deals to evade tax like those that were universal in the real estate market as well as in other goods before Nov. 8. Large stocks of unaccounted high-value currency are a strong incentive for betting (with match-fixing as its corollary), for luxury expenditure (as in high-end restaurants or on expensive liquor) or on ostentatious weddings or celebrations – all of which, so many would contend, add little of value to national income. Obviously, a relatively cashless economy would lack the wherewithal for such activity, and would therefore be better-equipped for productive activity. It would also generate more tax revenue. A major policy error however was the Rs 2000 note.  Obviously, it made no sense if the objective was to reduce the proportion of high-denomination currency and it was too large to be of any use in common and legitimate day-to-day transactions. In consequence, it tended to disappear from circulation and so was a most inappropriate replacement for the old banned notes. 

You have been associated with the School of International Studies at JNU as a professor of economics. How has the journey been like at such a leading institute? 

Over the years, I have learnt much from my students and colleagues. The process has been facilitated by the fact that the Centre for International Trade and Development, to which I have been affiliated, has been an island of academic calm amidst the tumult that seems continuously to engulf JNU.

How do you see India when it comes to handling its finance & economic and also its education? 

As I have indicated in Ch 10 of EWOTS, India, along with China and most of East and South Asia, is riding the crest of a world-wide wave of rapid growth in labour-abundant countries. There is very little that any government can do to mess this up. Of course, the previous Congress government attempted national hara-kiri through its ‘rights-based approach’ that led to the disastrous inflation of 2011-13. But at the 2014 elections, the country itself corrected course by sending the Congress into what looks like permanent exile. It should however be appreciated that our comparative advantage lies in raw labour, not human capital. During the first two decades of liberalization, government emphasized relatively human-capital-intensive activities like services and IT while surrendering manufacturing to China and other Asian countries. The result has been jobless growth. The present government’s stress on manufacturing is a welcome change in approach. Whether it succeeds in its objectives of course remains to be seen.

As for education, our obsession with quantity has resulted in a catastrophic collapse of standards.  I have written on this issue several times in the press, so I will not repeat myself.

What are you planning for your next book, if any such idea is lingering in your mind? 

The Epilogue of EWOTS describes several questions that I would like to address in my next book. In part, this would also constitute an updating of An Evolutionary View.

BOOK TITLE: Economics without Tears: a New Approach to an Old Discipline

AUTHOR: Ashok Sanjay Guha

PUBLISHER: Penguin Random House India

PAGES: 246

PRICE: Rs. 299

  

Seeking Chanakya’s Wisdom

Bestselling author Radhakrishnan Pillai’s book Chanakya in Daily Life, published by Rupa Publications India, is a fascinating way to sail through the tough times. Sapna Sarfare interviews the author regarding the book, being a best-selling author and more.

                Radhakrishnan Pillai

A simple question – how much can a book help in leading better life?

Books have always been sources to lead a better life. Across cultures & generations, we find books have helped people to make themselves better and have good quality of life. For eg., the Gita, Ramayana, Panchatantra, etc have been eternal books that have helped our nation stand the test of time.

How is this book different from the self-help books around?

My book ‘Chanakya in Daily Life’ is not a self-proclaimed theory of success. This is based on the ancient wisdom of Chanakya given in his Arthashastra that was written 2400 years ago. So, in reality there is no invention or nothing new as such. But, there is a discovery of many principles when are not just ancient but also eternal.

In this book, I have taken the liberty to modify the thoughts of Chanakya to our generation. You will find that the original quotes of Chanakya is used, and then given to readers in simple format that they can practice in their daily lives.

Please do tell the readers as to how the book will affect them in their daily life.

The book is divided into 3 parts – Personal life, Family life & Professional life. We all play these roles simultaneously at any given point of time. And the challenge is to balance all of them. One cannot be a successful professional and not give time to one’s family. On the other side, one cannot be a good family man without providing a decent income for this family needs, so the person has to be successful professionally also.

So in this book we have 69 short chapters dealing with day to day challenges. How to wake up in the morning, how to take care of health, how to plan your finances, taking a family vacation etc… One would be surprised that Chanakya offers solutions to many such areas of our daily lives. The best part is that each chapter can be read in 3 minutes. So take up a chapter a day – practice it and find success.

What makes Chanakya an excellent guru and still relevant to someone on higher position and layman?

Chanakya is relevant to the kings (those in higher positions) and also to the commoners (layman). The beauty is that any person at any stage of life can get guidance from his wisdom. Chanakya was a wise person. He thought of the total happiness of everyone. He wanted India to be healthy & wealthy country and be built on spiritual principals. For him, ethics and moral standards was the most important priority. Therefore, times may change yet Chanakya’s thoughts are relevant even today.

Quite a few management gurus have become the byword for writing spiritual/self-help books. How?

Where there is a demand there is a supply. Similarly it shows that since self-help books are doing well, our society needs many authors for writing in that area. However, look at the other side, not all self-help books do well. Those management gurus, who have done good research and also have experience in that field, are the ones who are in demand.

Self-help books also inspire people when they are low and down emotionally. They get a direction and path in their lives. There are many people who were contemplating suicide and then a few lines from a self-help book they read motivated them to live a purposeful life.

What kind of books keep you going?

I like to read all kinds of books. Reading for me is like a daily capsule. Without reading a few chapters of a book, not a single day of my book is complete. It is food for thought. Primarily I read more management, self-help and spiritual books (which is my area of writing too). But I do read novels, text books, academic journals (since I am a professor at University of Mumbai) and also poetry and drama. Nowadays lots of new & upcoming authors send me their books to be endorsed. So I read all those first time written books too.

A little bit of self-analysis – what makes you & your books so popular among the masses?

This is god’s grace. I have been very fortunate that all my books have been bestsellers. And continue to be even after 7 years (Corporate Chanakya – my 1^st book, continues to grow in its sales).

Out of over 10,000 books published each year in India, not all become best sellers. There are various factors that make it one. The most important one is a ‘connect’ to the readers. If the reader does not feel connected to the writing, he or she will lose interest after a few pages.

My writing style is simple and reader-friendly. Even though my books are for the intellectual readers, it is read by an 8 year old kid and also an 80 year old wise person. My readers have given me feedback that when they read the book, they feel I am telling their story. This is important.

My book ‘Chanakya in You’ got the Crossword Raymond Popular Book award. I was surprised the way readers have responded. They connected with each character in the book. This is true even for ‘Chanakya in Daily Life’ – you will feel connected that Chanakya is addressing your personal problems. And that is where the book becomes popular and successful.

Lastly, apart from the gyaan in the book, what else can anyone take from your present book?

Fun. My books are not just about Gyaan but enjoying life in totality. Life cannot be boring. It has to have an element of fun and joy. In my books I have always insisted people to have a ‘full’ life rather than just a regretting life. Listen to music, laugh at yourself, go on vacations, take a break, and spend time with your friends and family. Life cannot be dull; it has to have lot of positivity too. From my present book ‘Chanakya in Daily Life’ I say don’t just lead a successful life – lead a happy life…

BOOK TITLE: Chanakya in Daily Life

AUTHOR: Radhakrishnan Pillai

PUBLISHER: Rupa Publications India

PAGES: 285

PRICE: Rs. 295

Crime never pays

Cyber security expert Amit Dubey speaks to Sapna Sarfare about his book RETURN OF THE TROJAN HORSE Tales of Criminal Investigation which is based on his experiences of solving crimes for the police.

If you find a book based on real experiences, chances are they are quite a read. And if they are written by a cyber security expert like Amit Dubey, it is worth taking notice of. Dubey who heads Heuristics Info Systems Pvt. Ltd has come out with his book RETURN OF THE TROJAN HORSE Tales of Criminal Investigation is about a young software engineer who helps cops in solving cases and becomes useful. The book published by Leadstart Publishing is how he solves cases using his own experience and intelligence. Based on Dubey’s own experience, it is quite a read and reveals new techniques to solve criminal cases. He speaks about his book, his work and more.

What points made you think that writing a book would be a great option?

I have learnt that nothing thrills more than reality. So I decided to write the stories of some of the real crime investigation cases I have been involved with as an IT expert where I helped the police solve complex crime cases. They were related to terror attacks, kidnapping and road accidents and how technology was used to resolve them. The stories describe the personal struggles arising from such involvement while demonstrating smart ways of using advanced technology & creative thinking to nab criminals.

This book is the outcome of numerous, long-pending requests from many of my trainees in the Indian Police and Investigation departments. I hope the book will serve as an interesting way to learn about new investigation methodologies through the medium of emotional stories.

How would you describe the book to the reader? What are the interesting aspects?

This book is targeted at a generic audience. I think that criminal investigation is an ever-intriguing topic for most of the people of all ages and professions, who love to read and listen to such stories, especially when they are rooted in real life. I have received few very interesting feedbacks and am amazed to see the way people have taken it.

Amit Dubey

Most would have expected a non-fiction book from you. Why fiction?

Sometimes, it’s not possible to reveal such incidents as it is. However with little fiction, we can give new heights to such stories to make it more interesting.  I always believed in writing a story in such a manner so that if someone starts reading the book, he should not be able to put it down. It should have something new to surprise you at every page, it should have something which everyone can relate to and it should give a smooth, easy, emotional and thrilling ride to the reader.

As a cyber security expert, how do you think such books aid in making people aware of cybercrime?

I just wanted to tell interesting stories; there is no hidden intention to teach anything. The learning comes as a by-product.  It solely depends on readers what they can learn out of it. I just wanted to take my readers on a thrilling ride where they can be introduced to some hidden secrets of criminal investigation world. In a time when our mobile phone has become an integral part of our life, they should be aware of the fact that some truly dangerous things are possible if somebody gets an access to our mobile phone.

What kind of books do you read personally? Do you read just related to your profession?

Though I mostly read the technical stuff around cyber security and hacking, I love to read science fiction stories too and anything which could uplift my imagination. I also read poetries and lots of emotional stuff.

How has the response to the book been as of now? Any interesting feedback?

I am receiving some excellent feedback. During a panel discussion shoot at CNN studio, the camera man Sunil Bhatt came to me and said, sir, “I read your book and it’s amazing. I also gave the book to my teenage son and he loved it”. These kinds of surprise reactions from a range of readers are so encouraging. I feel really happy when people call me and want to meet me personally to discuss the book with me. My readers are getting intrigued by few facts in the book and want to know if everything is true. I think this is a big success when you make people believe whatever you say.

What’s your next book on? Will it be a non-fiction book?

I have already started working on my next book, This will reveal future of crimes,  What all  scary things could happen in near future  due to overload of technology around us and how investigation approaches will change in the future. It would have a blend of emotional twist and suspense drama which I try to keep as a key ingredient of my book recipe.

TITLE: RETURN OF THE TROJAN HORSE Tales of Criminal Investigation

AUTHOR: Amit Dubey

GENRE: Crime Fiction/Investigative

PUBLISHER: Leadstart Publishing 

PAGES: 258 

PRICE: Rs. 249

  

The art of writing for the ‘normal’

British author Lisa Williamson speaks to Sapna Sarfare about her novel The Art of Being Normal which deals with youngster dealing with gender identity and need to get acceptability for who they really are.

Lisa Williamson

Some books just connect from the moment you read the first sentence. One such book has been The Art of Being Normal by British author Lisa Williamson which is a remarkable story of friendship. David Piper has a secret known to few – he wants to be girl. He meets Leo Denton who prefers being invisible to hide a secret. Their friendship begins when Leo saves David from a bully. But it also has to go through some fire. Will they know each other’s secret? What happens if others know about it? The story is about 2 people with dreams which others might not understand.

A native of Nottingham, Lisa trained as an actor before discovering the writer within. She also worked at London-based Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) which helps underage kids deal with gender identity. She speaks about her debut novel, the thought behind it and more.

I loved the book. It read like a page out of real life yet was fiction. How did that happen?             

I don’t know! I think my lack of planning actually perhaps works in my favour sometimes. I tend to start writing not necessarily knowing where the story will go. As a result, I think the action tends to unfold in quite an authentic and organic way. I also always remember something a creative writing once said, and that was to include lots of ‘strange but true’ details in your work. Life is weird, people are weird, even the ones to seem really ordinary. We all have our strange little quirks and habits so I always try to include as many of these as possible. I also always aim to end chapters on, not a cliffhanger, exactly, but with an unanswered question in the air. 

The story was different & touching. Was there any reason of picking it for your debut novel?

Yes. I was directly inspired by the young people I met through my job at the time – as administrator for the Gender Identity Development Service. I was struck by the lack of fiction featuring transgender characters, particularly aimed at a young adult audience. The books I did find tended to be quite gloomy so I set about writing an entertaining, engrossing book that explored gender identity in a way that I felt reflected some of the experiences the young trans people I’d met had had. I didn’t want it to be defined by one theme/issue. Above all, it’s a book about being a teenager and all the ups & downs this brings. 

While writing, what were the struggles you faced, as the theme is of one lead character wanting to be a girl and another hiding a secret?

I struggle with plotting. I don’t like to plot in advance because I feel it stifles me and often forces me down paths that don’t feel right. At the same time, it’s quite scary not knowing where your story is going! For ages, Leo and David lived in separate cities and I spend weeks and weeks trying to come up with realistic ways for them to meet. I then decided to have them attend the same school but again it took ages to work out how to make their lives collide without sacrificing the authenticity. On the other hand, I actually found keeping Leo’s secret very fun! I liked dropping in little clues along the way and building up to the reveal. 

I loved the fact that the topic dealt with issues like bullying, transgender people, school life, teenage issues and society in a sensitive yet light manner. How did the process go in your mind before writing?

I always wanted the book to be sensitive yet not weighed down by any one issue or theme. Life is full of light and shade so I wanted the book to reflect this. I also knew from the start that I wanted a happy, hopeful ending so even when I was writing a painful scene, at the back of my mind I knew things were ultimately going to be okay. 

How are the issues in your book seen in the west?

Things have changed a lot since I started writing the book (in 2012). There has been a huge increase in the coverage of trans issues in the arts and media and although prejudice remains, the response has been largely positive. By making trans people and issues relevant to them mainstream and visible, it’s helping to remove the sense of fear and the unknown that so many people base their prejudices on. I’ve had lots of lovely emails about the book. Equally, I’m aware I’m in a bit of a bubble. The majority of my friends are very open and liberal so it’s often shocking to me when I realise how prevalent trans phobia still is. Things are improving (slowly) but there is still a lot of prejudice and ignorance. We’ve come a long way in a short space of time but there’s still so much to do. 

How has the response been to the book? Any response which touched you or even made you think?

It's been really, really lovely! I’ve had lots of emails and tweets that have touched me deeply. I’ve had messages from young trans people saying it’s helped them come out to friends and family; others say it’s helped just knowing it exists and is sold in mainstream high street bookshops. I’ve also had messages from older trans people saying they wish they’d had a book like it when they were younger. 

What’s your next book going to be?  

My next book is called All About Mia and is out in February 2017. It’s about a girl called Mia who is a middle child, sandwiched between two very impressive sisters. 

BOOK: The Art of Being Normal

AUTHOR: Lisa Williamson

GENRE: Young Fiction

LANGUAGE: English

PUBLICATION: David Fickling Books

PAGES: 353 

Deciphering Pakistan’s ISI

Political scientist & historian Dr. Hein G. Kiessling speaks to Sapna Sarfare in an interview about his book Faith, Unity, Discipline: The ISI of Pakistan on the world’s most unknown yet heard secret service

Some books just catch your fancy. One recently did that for me. It was a book called Faith, Unity, Discipline: The ISI of Pakistan by Dr. Hein G. Kiessling and published by HarperCollins Publishers India. It happens to be the first comprehensive account of the ISI, Pakistan’s secret service organisation. The book delves into an organisation established during Indo-Pak independence and came into flowering with its involvement with the CIA during & after 1979. Political scientist & historian Dr. Kiessling has made an attempt to reveal things about Pakistan’s secret service. The book is a vital one to understand intelligence agencies especially the one which has kept India, South Asia and the world thinking. Dr. Kiessling gives us an insight into the book, ISI and more.

What aspects of ISI made it a worthy subject of your book?

Over the last 40 years in reports about developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan & India, ISI was mentioned often as one of the main players. From these reports, it became clear to me that deeper knowledge & information about the agency were, most of the time, not available. Until recently, there was also no English book on it existing. These were the motives for me to write my book.

It may not have been an easy subject to research, considering the nature of the organisation and that it is quite unlike other such agency. What were the highs & lows and frustrations?

Access to intelligence agencies to insiders, informed people & valuable information is naturally not easy. I worked hard on it and think I was successful to some extent. I got what I expected to get! For me, there were no real disappointments (lows) over the years in doing research. In contrast, I felt sometimes ‘high’ after successful meetings with big shots, both in Pakistan and India.

Looking back, frustration came up end of 2015 & spring 2016. It would have been a perfect publishing time. The book should have been at the same time in the markets in GB, USA and India. For some reasons, this did not happen - water under the bridge now.

The name intrigues me: Faith, Unity, Discipline: The ISI of Pakistan. How did that come about?

On airport road from Islamabad to Pindi, you find “Faith-Unity-Discipline” in big letters on a hill. You can see or read it even at night time. As the motto for Pakistan, it was created by Mohammed Ali Jinnah and later on, changed in sequence by Zia-Ul-Haq. Pakistan’s Military & Intelligence people feel strongly committed to this motto. My publisher in London, Michael Dwyer at Hurst, discussed the title question with me and we agreed it would be a good title for the book.

Reading the kind of news we do about Pakistan, it must have been interesting staying there for around 13 years.

I lived 4 years in Balochistan (Quetta/Loralai) and 9 years in Islamabad. Having a permit for the tribal areas, I traveled a lot. It was fascinating to meet people with different ethnic, religious & cultural background. By the way, over the years I was also at least 20 times in India. All together, the years in South Asia were a highlight in my working life.

"The man (Pakistani) on the street does not feel a direct ISI hold, but is often confused by reports & statements about the agency."

How much hold does ISI have over Pakistani politics & life?

There is no doubt that ISI has a strong hold on Pakistan’s, Afghanistan & India/Kashmir politics and also in the country’s security and fight against terrorism. Politicians, academics, journalists, columnists & mullahs knew this and must keep it in mind. The man on the street does not feel a direct ISI hold, but is often confused by reports & statements about the agency.

On a global level, how would you rate & place ISI as an agency?

The ISI is strongly organized, works effective and is probably the best intelligence agency in Asia.

Politics is ever changing. What keeps the political scientist & historian in you still excited about?

Seeing China working on a “New Silk Road”, on China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC) and on getting control over the Indian Ocean. Seeing India’s efforts to counter it. Seeing the developments in Afghanistan and Iran. A fascinating region for a political observer. Though being already in retirement, in 2015, I was still once in India and three times in Pakistan.

What is the one factor about the book to describe the book and make a reader pick it up?

The book is based on open sources, many talks/meetings with real key players & my personal observations over the years. Special on the book are the fully included answers the ISI has given to me in writing in August 2015 on special questions like ‘First Nuke Use’, ‘Situation in Balochistan’, ‘R&AW in Afghanistan’, ‘Missing Persons’, ‘Memogate’, etc. In my mind, this makes the book interesting.

TITLE: Faith, Unity, Discipline: The ISI of Pakistan

AUTHOR: Dr. Hein G. Kiessling

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins Publishers India

PAGES: 320

PRICE: Rs. 599

Translations & More

Author & translator Bhaskar Chattopadhyay speaks to Sapna Sarfare about translating Moti Nandy’s classic novel Shiva in English, his own debut novel & more

Translations are the best way of getting introduced to different cultures & mindsets. Bengali literature has always wowed non-Bengali, thanks to the content and of course, some superb translations. The latest Bengali classic translated into English Shiva, a book by reputed Bengali writer & sports journalist Moti Nandy. The story is about a poor seventeen-year-old Shiva who finds fame as boxer, faces hard times and returns as a true hero. Translation is done by author & translator Bhaskar Chattopadhyay and published by Penguin India. He speaks about translating Shiva, his connection with Nandy’s works, translations, his own book and more.

What is it about Shiva that made you want to translate it for a larger readership?

Shiva is a beautiful story of resilience, you see? That was what drew me to it. It is easy to write a story about a hero who rises from extreme poverty to infinite glory. But success can be very blinding and very tricky for those who don’t know how to handle it. To paint a hero in shades of grey is something that our fiction rarely does. I’d like to read a story about someone who does not know how to handle new-found success. Shiva is exactly that story, and more. It is about a boy who rises, falls, and rises again. That, to me, was a very interesting premise. Also, sports fiction has always been a much-neglected genre in our literature. As a writer, I would like to work with a wide range of subjects – and sports were something that I wanted to do pretty early on. Hence, Shiva!

What were the things you had to be careful while translating this book?

As you may be aware, ‘Shiva’ is actually a translation of not one, but two novellas written by Moti Nandy. Right from the beginning, when I was planning the project, I wanted to not only translate them, but to merge them into one wholesome novel. This was important because I wanted readers to know Shiva’s entire journey without a break. To do that, I had to make a lot of changes in the second novella, to ensure that the story moves seamlessly between the two halves. That was a very difficult process, and I had to be careful that I do not repeat or overstate anything. Also, the use of jargons from the world of boxing also called for a lot of careful consideration. It had to be an immersive experience, without sounding didactic. It had to flow from the inside out.

As a Bengali, have your read Moti Nandy’s works? What has been your experience?

Nandy used to be one of my favourite authors during my growing up years. His work in sports fiction is a unique contribution and has perhaps not been replicated anywhere else in India. At a time when most Bengali novels for young adults were busy taking them on fantastic adventures, Nandy came with a more grounded offering. He started writing about sports and ordinary boys & girls who made it big in sports through sheer hard work, determination & perseverance. He had some advantage, of course, because he was a sports journalist for several years. His language was beautiful and easy to understand, his ‘call to action’ impeccably effective and he taught a lot of youngsters to dream big and work hard. I, for one, have enjoyed his novels thoroughly, and not just his sports fiction. Even his other novels left an indelible impression in my mind with their richness. The first Moti Nandy novella I read was ‘Jiban-Ananta’, and my favourite novellas were of course the two Shiva novellas.

What is the toughest part of translating any book?

I’d say the toughest part is to retain the essence & message of the original. I need to be so much in love with the original story, that it becomes a part of me. Once that happens, translation is merely a process of penning it down in another language. As I always say, translation is a two-step process. In the first step, you make the original story your own. In the second, you tell the story in your own words. It’s a long, sometimes very painful process, and it’s just like falling in love – it happens to you. You can’t make it happen. If you force it, it will show, and the effects will be disastrous.

Bhaskar Chattopadhyay

Your debut novel, Patang, was recently launched. Tell us about it & the reason behind writing a thriller as your debut book.

Well, it wasn’t a choice that I had, really. I was asked to write a story for a film by a producer in Mumbai, and was told that it had to be a thriller. My second novel ‘Penumbra’, for instance, was a cosy crime mystery – a tribute to the golden days of detective fiction, featuring a ‘thinking detective’ rather than a gunslinger. My translations are from varied genres. But that is not to say that I do not like thrillers, though. ‘Patang’ is a thriller – a serial killer mystery based in Mumbai. And like any good thriller involving a killer and a cop, it is essentially a hunting story – a tale of a predator and a prey. The urban setting is merely happenstance.

How has the response been like?

‘Patang’ has been received very well; in fact, I wasn’t expecting this kind of reaction from my readers. It has been widely described as an intelligent thriller, an unputdownable book, a visual treat where you can not only see the vivid descriptions of the gritty locales in front of your eyes, but can even smell them! Another often repeated reaction that I have received is that they were completely dumbfounded by the way the mystery unravels at the end. For a writer of a mystery novel, there’s nothing more satisfying than that compliment.

Most writers have favourites in the genre they love. Tell us about yours.

I love the good old detective stories. Poirot, Holmes, Father Brown, Nigel Strangeways, our very own Feluda and Byomkesh Bakshi... I love the puzzles these stories pose, and I love solving them with the help of the clues the authors provide. My favourite detective story is Agatha Christie’s ‘The ABC Murders’. Outside the genre, I love adventure stories, hunting stories, and stories about expeditions.

You translated 14: Stories That Inspired Satyajit Ray. Any particular reason why you chose it?

Two reasons, in fact! First, the stories themselves are extremely powerful. Second, as a lover of cinema, I’m very interested in the art of cinematic adaptation. I love thinking about the ways a work of literature can & should be taken to the screen, and the many difficulties that this transfer would present. The two media are totally different, and yet Ray had taken such beautiful stories, and made such beautiful films out of them. If you think about it, it’s a very difficult feat to pull off. What may look good on the pages of a book may not necessarily look good on screen. How did he do that? How did he manage to retain – and sometimes enhance – the beauty in the stories? That was something that I wanted to spend some time on. That’s how ’14: Stories…’ was conceived and written.

What next from your pen?

In ‘Penumbra’, I created a detective of my own, and I’d like to tell a few more of his stories. Which is why, I decided to create a series with him. My next book would be the second book in the series. Readers can expect another baffling puzzle, with all the clues right in front of their eyes. Then comes ‘Nayak’, my novelization of Satyajit Ray’s famous film of the same name. It’s a project that is very close to my heart. I’m also planning to write another high octane urban thriller like ‘Patang’, and that should come out sometime next year.

TITLE: Shiva

AUTHOR: Moti Nandy

TRANSLATOR: Bhaskar Chattopadhyay

PUBLISHER: Penguin Random House India

PAGES: 256

PRICE: Rs. 399 

Interview of Author Vikram Balagopal

For author Vikram Balagopal, his book Savage Blue is an escapist fantasy adventure meant to be read for fun, but still addresses many world issues. He speaks to Sapna Sarfare about the book & more

Vikram Balagopal

Literature always welcomes newer pens with open hand and readers always look forward to something new. Adding to this list, HarperCollins Publishers India is presenting Vikram Balagopal’s Savage Blue, a book exploring environmental issues with feminism in an interesting manner. Balagopal is an award winning author, illustrator, a cartoonist, a film-maker and a published poet who previous attempt at writing is an award-winning graphic novel Simian.

One is really intrigued by Savage Blue, which is depicted as an escapist fantasy adventure with romance in the present era. Vikram adds, “Savage Blue is an escapist fantasy adventure meant to be read for fun, but within its story I still wanted to address many of the issues in our world. The relationship between the two main characters, Akila and Shyam, and keeping that real was what mattered most to me. There is love and sex but it is far from a fairytale romance.”

With Savage Blue, Vikram feels readers will connect with the lead in their own way and he wants to know the connection is more on which side. “Every day of our lives we all know what it is to be trapped in something, be it tradition or debt or social norms or our own insecurities and that desire to break free is universal.” 

The idea for the novel came from Vikram’s need to write a present-day fantasy, which took time to develop & be written. One sense Savage Blue is Vikram’s efforts to showcase himself as a multi-faceted writer. “I’ve worked as a screenwriter and filmmaker before I did my graphic novel Simian. I’ve never chosen to do something one way or another simply for the sake of doing it differently. In the case of Simian, I felt that the story suited a graphic novel best in the way I wanted to tell it, and now with Savage Blue, it came to me as a novel. That doesn’t mean I can’t adapt it later to another medium. It is just that this is its original form.”

Ramayan was the base of his graphic novel Simian, but from Hanuman’s point of view. Vikram divulges, “The story in Simian, where Bhima and Hanuman meet, has existed as a part of the Mahabharata and I’ve seen it performed in Kathakali as well, where it is called Kalyana Sougandhikam. It is a famous episode in the epic and when my grandmother used to tell me bedtime stories it was the one I requested most often, along with other stories of Hanuman. In it, Hanuman and Bhima have a chance meeting in the jungle. They have a connection because they are both sons of the wind god Vayu, and when Hanuman learns of the troubles the Pandavas have had to endure in their escalating conflict with the Kauravas, and he sees Bhima’s lust for vengeance, he tries to persuade him that violence and war is not the answer. He has personal experience of it from the Great War between Ram and Ravan and he shares his wisdom with Bhima that war is unpredictable, leading to the participants compromising on their morals, and then spending the rest of their lives living with the consequences of their decisions. And the best way for him to illustrate this is to tell Bhima what really happened the only way he can, through his eyes. Simian was not done with the purpose of being another point of view, but it is instead a quest to understand and dig deeper into this thing called war that touches and shapes our world every single day.” 

Good writers are avid readers, of course. One thinks that the writer might have different topics to read through as a reader. Vikram responds, “That’s a difficult question to answer because my selections as a reader are so eclectic and this is only my second book, so it’s too soon to tell.” He does think there are a lot of new Indian writers who can be described as wonderful. This makes his reading queue quite long. His only remorse is, “I only wish I could read faster and that I had more time for it.”

As a trained filmmaker, he is constantly working on film projects. As for his next from his pen, he reveals that he is waiting to see.

Book Photo Credit: https://booksandstrips.wordpress.com/tag/savage-blue/ 

BOOK: Savage Blue 

AUTHOR: Vikram Balagopal

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins Publishers India 

PAGES: 416

PRICE: Rs. 399

RELEASE DATE: September, 2016

Indian Cuisine Deciphered

Writer Colleen Taylor Sen speaks to Sapna Sarfare regarding her latest book Feasts and Fasts: A History of Food in India which reveals Indian cuisine like no other book.

Much has been written about Indian cuisine. Yet, not all these books & their authors can claim to be an authority on the subject. Colleen Taylor Sen is an exception. A Canadian-American translator & author, Colleen has written vastly on Indian cuisine including 6 books. Despite her Slavic Studies educational background, it is her prolific writing on different topics she is renowned for.

Her latest book, Feasts and Fasts: A History of Food in India explores Indian cuisine keeping in mind India’s religious, social and other growth, along with topics like vegetarianism, street food, festivals & food, and so on. Colleen speaks about this project which puts focus on Indian cuisine once again.

A lot is always being spoken about Indian cuisine. How does your book differ in that sense?

Despite the growing surge of interest in Indian cuisine and history, the only other comprehensive work on the subject is the late K.T. Achaya’s wonderful book Indian Food, written over 20 years ago in 1994, and followed by his Historical Dictionary of Indian Food (1998). By contrast, dozens of books have been written on the history of other national cuisines. Achaya’s book covers the food of certain regions in depth, especially his native Karnataka, but devotes less attention to other cuisines such as Bengali, Assamese and tribal cuisines. I know that my own book has similar shortcomings and hope that many other people are inspired to write histories of not just Indian cuisine but their regional and even local cuisines, drawing upon original sources.

What are the aspects of the book which will tempt food lovers and readers alike?

The book has a lot of anecdotes, historic recipes, and even poems. My favorites include an ode to ghee from the Rig Veda and a whimsical argument among leafy vegetables about which is the superior in a 16^th century Sanskrit treatise called the Ksemakutuhalam (Diet and Wellbeing.). Feasts and Fasts is also lavishly illustrated with photographs and paintings. 

How tough was it to write a book like this considering the sheer vastness of the cuisine?

Colleen Taylor Sen

It was very challenging. I have been writing about Indian food for over 30 years and accumulated a lot of material in the process, but  it still required a great deal of research. It took me three years to write it. I was limited to translations into English but on occasion asked native speakers, such as my husband who is Bengali and a friend who is a professor of Sanskrit for help. Some of the existing translations are poor because the translators were not cooks and didn’t know how to translate culinary terms. 

Any aspect(s) which surprised or amused you?

I was surprised by many things. Some people think that Kebabs came with the Mughals, but in fact, meal grilled on skewers over a fire goes back thousands of years to Vedic times. Also, in classical Ayurvedic medicine, meat and even alcohol was part of some cures. As an 11^th century Ayurvedic physician wrote, “The recommendations of medicine are not intended to help someone achieve virtue (dharma). What are they for, then? They are aimed at achieving health.”

Your educational background is different from what you write currently. How did the process towards writing on food start?

Although my educational background is in Slavic languages, I was familiar with the techniques of scholarly research and writing and this was very helpful. I started writing about Indian food for newspapers and magazines in the United States decades ago, when very few people were doing so, and eventually adopted a more scholarly approach to the subject by writing several books.

Has your foray into writing about Indian food come from the fact that you are married to an Indian?

It very much comes into it. My husband is Bengali and has been very interested in food since childhood. His late mother Arati Sen was a well known Bengali journalist who wrote a widely-read column in the magazine Desh under the pen name Srimati. She wrote a lot about food and even introduced me to the late Kundal Lal Gujral, founder of the iconic Moti Mahal restaurant. 

Indian food still has not reached the global status. As an authority on Indian cuisine, what do think?

That is a very good and much debated question which Professor Krishnendu Ray explores in his recent book Ethnic Food. In the United Kingdom, Indian food is, of course, very popular both as an everyday food and as haute cuisine. London alone has several Michelin-starred Indian restaurants. In the United States, Indian food is less popular. One reason is that India is less familiar to Americans than to the British for whom it is part of their history. Another is that other cuisines have long gained a popular foothold in the U.S., especially Chinese, Mexican and Thai. I believe that one way Indian food will become more popular here is via street food both in food trucks and restaurants that serve Kathi Rolls and other wraps, Bhelpuri, and similar dishes.

Colleen Taylor Sen’s latest book Feasts and Fasts: A History of Food in India is out in the market. Visit her website www.colleensen.com for more information on her and her work.

Feasts and Fasts: A History of Food in India

AUTHOR: Colleen Taylor Sen

PUBLISHER: Reaktion Books

PUBLISHED: January 2015

GENRE: Food, History, Culture

LANGUAGE: English 

PRICE: Rs 562

PAGES: 352 

A way for happiness

Acclaimed psychological researcher Raj Raghunathan, in his book If You’re So smart Why Aren’t you Happy?, speaks about bringing happiness in your life. Sapna Sarfare finds out how… 

Raj Raghunathan

It is not always that success and happiness mean the same thing. Behind every successful person, there might be a unhappy person waiting for something to bring a smile to his existence. Many ask question regarding what can make a happy & fulfilling life and what are its true determinants.

Here’s where acclaimed psychological researcher Raj Raghunathan comes in the picture with his new book on finding answers for happiness for all. The well-researched book, If You’re So smart Why Aren’t you Happy?, reveals the path to finding true success of love, importance and control which will bring in lasting happiness. The book is published by publishing giant Penguin Random House UK.

A popular blogger for Psychology Today, Raj Raghunathan happens to be an Associate Professor at the University of Texas McCombs Scholl of Business. He received the Best MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) 2015 for his free online course – A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment.

How would you really define this book? Is it a self-help book or there is something more to the book?

It’s a scientifically-based book that addresses one of life’s big questions: What are the determinants of a happy and fulfilling life? In doing so, it arrives at a set of recommendations that are relatively easy to implement, but eventually lead to a set of deep-rooted changes. If you want to call that a self-help book, I (Raj Raghunathan) am totally fine with it. But it’s important to note that this book is based entirely on scientific findings - and is not faith-based.

Your book is the outcome of your interactions with successful; friends who were unhappy. What were the specific pointers that made you think a book is a good way to help others with similar problems?

I wouldn’t really say that the book is the outcome of my interactions with friends who are successful and still unhappy. I would say that observing the unhappiness of smart-and-successful people (me included) motivated me to explore the topic further. 

The book emerged organically from this exploration. I first started teaching a course on the topic, and then started blogging about some of the course content on Psychology Today. I then taught an online course on the topic - a course that was rated the Best MOOC of 2015. I finally took all of the content and experience and synthesized it in the book.

How are the book’s contents aid the readers in realising issues and getting a solution by themselves?

The book is written in a “user friendly” way. That is, despite being based on science, it does not use jargon. I also weave in many personal anecdotes & stories to help the reader better relate to the material. Finally, I have many exercises that I recommend to the reader. The reader can do these exercises on my website (www.happysmarts.com). Doing these exercises will help the reader assimilate the concepts in the book better and see for him or her that it’s possible to put in place a recipe that leads to happiness and fulfillment. 

Is the book really for anybody who wants to find the true meaning of happiness?

It’s a book for anybody who is a “serious seeker” – someone who is deeply interested in figuring out the answer to the question, “what are the determinants of a happy and fulfilling life?” I feel that almost everyone – even if some does not realize it - is interested in the question. Some believe that they already know what it takes to lead such a life. Even these people will find the book interesting (because it covers a lot of science that they may not be aware of) – providing they are open-minded. 

How do you balance teaching marketing and helping people seek happiness? They are so different topics from each other from my point of view.

Ultimately, the aim of any business is (or should be) to improve the welfare of the customers. (Even if a firm wants to make a profit, it can only do so by improving the welfare of customers.) What better way to do this than by understanding what makes the happy and trying to improve their emotional well-being? After all, isn’t that what we all ultimately seek? 

So, I really don’t see any conflict between teaching marketing and teaching happiness. I would say they are complementary topics, even if this doesn’t seem apparent at first. 

How have the readers responded as yet? Any interesting stories to share

It's early days yet, but I have already had a few readers write back to me. They find the fact that I have so many resources available: the online course, my website, and the book (which, by the way, is available in e-book and audio versions as well), to be very helpful. A few of them are doing all three at once! 

Lastly, do share one tip for happiness whether successful or not.

Ultimately, you can’t really sustain a state of happiness unless you feel a sense of abundance – that is, that you have everything you need in life and more. Of course, it’s difficult for those living in conditions of scarcity (e.g., war or poverty struck zones) to feel this sense of abundance, but the rest of us can feel this way. And all of the exercises in the book are, in one way or another, aimed at nurturing this sense of abundance. 

One simple (but powerful) exercise is to maintain a gratitude journal. Just make a note of three good things that happened to you each day. They needn’t be anything big. Even little things like, ‘a stranger smiled at me’ or ‘I found a rupee on the road’ will do. You’d be surprised at how big an effect this has on your happiness if you do it for even just 2 weeks. 

IF YOU’RE SO SMART WHY AREN’T YOU HAPPY?

AUTHOR: Raj Raghunathan

PUBLISHER: Penguin Random House UK

PUBLISHED: 10^th May

GENRE: Self-help, Personal Development & Psychology

LANGUAGE: English 

PRICE: Rs 499

PAGES: 352 

Photo Credit for Raj Raghunathan's Photo: www.telegraph.co.uk

Investigating Tarquin Hall

Journalist & writer Tarquin Hall is popular for his creation – Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator. He speaks to Sapna Sarfare about the character, writing, popularity & much more

Tarquin Hall

Over the years, I have realised that writing is not an easy job. If you are an author writing in another country, the task is humungous. You have the locals to please, apart from staying away from any prejudices. Amongst successful authors residing & writing in India writing is British journalist & writer Tarquin Hall who has been associated with India through his journalistic work. Having done some impressive features, he has several articles to his name in British newspapers & magazines.

Most Indians identify him as the creator of Vish Puri, a Dilliwala who happens to be India’s Most Private Investigator. Starting from his first Vish Puri mystery novel The Case of the Missing Servant (2009), he has cultivated a fan following with three more novels – The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing (2010), The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken (2012) and The Case of the Love Commandos (2013). Busy man that he is, a short & sweet email interview introduces the man behind the pen.

This half-British & half-American writer is married to an Indian. His childhood & later writing led him to different places. One is sure that this must have had a profound effect over his writing & general outlook. Tarquin reveals, “My parents always mixed with lots of people from different countries when I was a kid and up until the age of 10, I was in schools in London with kids from all over. My mother hung curtains in my bedroom with caricatures of children from Europe, America, Asia, the Middle East, etc. I guess her aim was to emphasise that we are all members of a larger community. I also had a godfather who collected folk tales from all over the world and recorded them on audiocassette and I often listened to them. My father would also read me store from World Tales by Idries Shah, which I loved.” 

In his words, despite growing up in England, he learnt the important fact that there is a whole world out there to explore and that we share the same planet & common humanity in every way possible. “The moment I turned 18 I was off, I wanted to see all of it.” Larger causes are in smaller things, indeed.

Vish Puri connected with Indian readers quickly. One cannot imagine of how a character like Vish Puri came up. To quote Tarquin, Vish Puri owes his existence to his inspiration from real life detectives interviewed while writing an article for The Sunday Times in UK. His article was on Indian detectives investigating for parents on prospective brides & grooms in arranged marriages. “What came across to me was how these detectives were dealing with any number of incredible, unlikely & sometimes downright bizarre cases as well. I did not think when I was doing the story that I would take it further and start writing detective novels. In fact, I had never really considered doing fiction. One day in London, I was walking along the street and suddenly thought to myself, “You know what? This is a brilliant way to describe modern India today”. I dashed into a shop, bought a notebook and started outlining the character, his helpers and the bare bones of the first case.  That’s how Vish was born.”

Vish Puri stories might seem typical. Dig deep and his stories amuse people, interest them and get them involved in the story at once. Writers find it tough to avoid clichés and just write what they think is right. Tarquin begs to differ. “In some ways, I don’t mind dealing in generalisations. I think they’re very useful for people to grasp the basic about a society. I honestly try not to be too hung up on what other people consider authentic. However, I do try to make the books ring true as much as possible, while accepting the fact that I’m an outsider and am mostly writing for other outsiders. My aim is to interest people in India, show them what a complex & extraordinary place it is, and how much it’s changing is some ways and not in others. I try to pack the books with different aspects of the culture & cultural phenomenon each time. The plot is always secondary to that,” he divulges.

Success has come well for Vish Puri. Tarquin has been getting mails & messages on social media about the books’ popularity. “When the first book came out, I was terrified that Indian readers would hate it. You never know how people are going to react. It’s one thing sitting on your own bashing away at a keyboard but then suddenly your words are published, they’re out there and others can read them. And you think, oh crap, what are they going to make of it?  But I’ve had so many Indian readers write to me or tell me how much they’ve enjoyed or even loved the series that I feel very comfortable now. I think generally they emphasise with Vish Puri because he’s a decent man having to deal with obstacles that they recognise. They like the humour, too. If they’re especially from northern India, they’ve all got an uncle like VP - a thoroughly honest bloke – a bit pompous and very fond of his khaana & the odd non-veg joke,” he happily writes.     

 

Vish Puri mystery books are not Tarquin’s only claim to fame. He has a few books on Indian sub-continent too. There is that non-fiction book To the Elephant Graveyard which speaks about his journey in Assam with Dinesh Choudhury, an elephant hunter. He recounts, “I wrote it because it was an incredible adventure and I had a lot to say about the plight of elephants & the way nature is under assault. I suppose there was quite a bit in there about human nature as well. The other book you are referring to is Salaam Brick Lane. That is about my time living in the London’s East End amongst a mostly immigrant population. It was conceptualised in the sense that I lived through that experience and then decided to write a book about it.”

Having caught our imagination, Tarquin is finally coming out with yet another creation. His next book, The Delhi Detective’s Handbook, has just got over. “I should say Vish Puri has completed it as it’s entirely written in his voice. It’s been tremendous fun to do. There are sections on the history of spycraft in India, the best disguises, how to trail people through Indian traffic, how to grow a proper moustache. There’s also a section on where to find the best snack food when conducting a stakeout. It is going to be out soon. Meanwhile, I have been working on other projects. I have come up with four new Puri novel ideas and am aiming to get to work on the next soon. The working title is The Case of the Bombay Duck.”

Some writers just know what readers want. Tarquin Hall is one of such successful gentleman. Lucky, eh!