The Amit Chaudhuri Chat
This is an unedited version.
Sharif (Mon Feb 14 19100 5:16 IST)
Hi, how you think up your charaters, would u say there is any common underlying theme in all your books?
RVenkatesh (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:24 IST)
Do you think, the recent 'Water' Controversy will affect the freedom of expression particularly that of writers like you? Do you think a writer's freedom of expression is absolute ?
rediff (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:28 IST)
we'd like to apologise for the delay in this chat. mr chaudhuri, who is on his way, has been trapped in one of bombay's ill-famed traffic jams. but he will be with us soon, so do hang on
RVenkatesh (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:36 IST)
One hypothetical question. If you had been in Salman Rushdid's place how you would have reacted to 'fatwa'?
RVenkatesh (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:43 IST)
Do you think,in recent years,a new breed of English writers from India are making waves in the west ?
seneca (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:45 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri, are you influenced by other art forms, especially Indian ones, like say, miniature paintings
RVenkatesh (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:47 IST)
What is your advice for someone who wants to be a great writer like you?
Terra (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:48 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri, are you influenced by Jane Austen's descriptions - chiselled, nuanced and revelling in the tiny
seneca (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:50 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri, to what extent do you draw on personal experience
Terra (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:50 IST)
Hi Mr Chaudhuri, what inspired you to write your latest novel?
RVenkatesh (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:50 IST)
Do you have any plans to write short stories, like the great R K Narayan, in future?
seneca (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:51 IST)
Hullo
seneca (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:52 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri, what's next on the agenda
Terra (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:53 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri, your first book won a travel award (The Betty Trask Award) if I am not mistaken. How come??????
Terra (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:53 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri where are you
ululate (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:57 IST)
Hi Amit, it is believed that in Afternoon Raga, you wrote about your own experiences and the women in the novel - Mandira and Shenaaz are based on real women in Oxford whom you knew. Do you think anything is grist to a writer's mill or isn't this unethical. Do writers always "betray" people in this sense
RVenkatesh (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:57 IST)
Do you think, like American English, some form of Indian English (i don't mean Hinglish, the Hindi English, the people in Bolleywood speak) is evolving both in speech and literature that would become acceptable world wide?
vindhya (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:57 IST)
Hi Amit, I am Vindhya
vindhya (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:58 IST)
Amit, do you like England more or India. Also you are obviously influenced by Indian classical music. Tell us how it affects your art and craft as a writer
vindhya (Mon Feb 14 19100 7:59 IST)
Why do you teach? Do you like it or is it a means to earn money? Now that you are an established writer, surely you don't need the money!!!
sweetkandy (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:1 IST)
hello
sweetkandy (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:2 IST)
can u possibly give me any info on freelance writing for indian fashion magazines from usa? thankxx
ululate (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:2 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri, what do you see yourself possessing in common with other Indian writers who write in English
Terra (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:12 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri hello where are you boss
hellfires (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:15 IST)
Hi there where are you????
Terra (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:15 IST)
Hi, are you influenced by Nirad Chaudhuri
radhika (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:16 IST)
mr chaudhuri, what do you think has let to the sudden recognition of Indian writing in English?
ululate (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:16 IST)
Mr Chaudhuri, do you agree with Pankaj Mishra when he says that Indian writers writing in English miss everything vital. I mean what about communities like the catholics and Anglo indians then?
vindhya (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:17 IST)
Are you influenced by poetry? which poets do you like
ululate (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:18 IST)
Do you find Indian writers a competitive lot
vindhya (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:18 IST)
When did you get interested in writing?
hellfires (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:19 IST)
What do you think is the reason non-writers like Kiran Desai and Vikram Chandra and Shobha De get published????
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:21 IST)
I think this chat with Mr Amit is virtual
trevani (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:21 IST)
did you ever believe that you could earn a living through writing?
vindhya (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:21 IST)
Why do you think there are so many Bengali writers writing in English. And half the time they only write about Bengalis???
ululate (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:22 IST)
When did you start writing?
wholesaler (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:22 IST)
What according to you is the role of the novelist in Society???
attila (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:23 IST)
Hello? Are you there???
radhika (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:26 IST)
mr chaudhuri, what do you think has let to the sudden recognition of Indian writing in English?
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:26 IST)
What is your view on recent 'Water' controversy? Do you think it will affect the freedom of expression in future particularly that of writers like you? Moreover do you think freedom of expression is absolute?
wholesaler (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:27 IST)
Why is getting published so difficult - I mean I contacted some literary agents once and they would not give me the time of day?
coolman (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:27 IST)
Do you think the Indian novel in English has to evolve its own form?
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:27 IST)
Do you have any plans to write short stories like the great R K Narayan in near future ?
philistine (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:29 IST)
How do you find the two worlds of England and Calcutta? Do you find this in-betweenness giving an edge to your writing?
attila (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:30 IST)
What has been the most important factor in your decision to be a writer?
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:30 IST)
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:32 IST)
What is your advice for someone who wants to be a great writer like you?
attila (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:32 IST)
It seems to me that western literary critics have two standards - one for white writers whom they view with a "tabula rasa" kind of framwework, and another for non-whites. To be sure one can't blame them either with all this talk of new standards, new grounds etc. Do you think they are scared of being called racist?
radhika (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:33 IST)
mr chaudhuri, what do you think has led to the sudden recognition of Indian writing in English?
trevani (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:33 IST)
did you ever believe that you could earn a living through writing?
bookhater (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:33 IST)
Do you agree with Pankaj Mishra's remarks about Indian writers in English. I mean, in Pankaj's view of things, there is no space for someone like, say, the Anglo-Indian community. So, ultimately it is a dangerous nativist position with proto-Hindutva overtones. What do you say to that?
remedios (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:34 IST)
amit, what has led to this sudden blessing for Indian readers -- the translation of regional works into English?
lampedusa (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:35 IST)
Don't you think a lot of writers have begun to use their race and gender as a passport to success.
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:36 IST)
What is your assessement of Indian critic of Indian writers in English? Do you think the critic in our country are matured enough to review English novels written by Indian writers?
bookhater (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:39 IST)
Could you tell us something about your latest work, which is hot off the press?
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:39 IST)
Lastly, how do you feel when someone like me who has never read your novels shoots questions ?
coldmilk (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:40 IST)
What do you think of Shobha De?
coldmilk (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:42 IST)
I found Pankaj Mishra's remarks to be particularly offensive. I agree that Rushdie and Indian writers aren't the be-all and end-all of writing, but Pankaj seems to suffer from the same malaise when he speaks "for the masses" as it were. Isn't that ironic?
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:42 IST)
Do you have any dream of getting Nobel prize someday?
coldmilk (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:44 IST)
What do you think about Vikram Chandra's nonsense about a global consciouness and writing?
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:44 IST)
Do you have any plans to write short novels like the great R K Narayan in future?
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:45 IST)
sorry i mean short stories
coldmilk (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:45 IST)
Venkatesh, we heard you. Please behave. You are not at a Govinda concert.
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:46 IST)
Do you write poems ?
toytrain (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:47 IST)
Why is it that Indian writers have to gain acceptance in the west to be respected here. Isn't it as much the fault of our reading public, to whatever extent it exists here as of the publishers?
twocents (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:47 IST)
What do you think of Pankaj's novel?
sneha (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:48 IST)
Mr Chaudhri: Why is it said that the bengal thinks today then the rest of country thinks tomorrow? also, if that is the case? why the unions are dying slow death in wbengal? moreover, why the IT companies are not coming to the red state? is it because of unions?
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:48 IST)
What is your problem cold milk ? keep cool and shut up ok !
coldmilk (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:49 IST)
What do you think about postmodern writing? It's awful to read, i'nnit? Give me a good old fashioned story anyday??
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:50 IST)
sneha why are you so self-centric. your questions,it seems, are confined to Bengal and Bengal literature !
VenkateshR (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:51 IST)
cool milk you should go to archives. Do not ask stupid question !
versace (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:52 IST)
Spekaing of the man, Georg Steiner has a lovely quote - he says "the realm of inspired kitsch informs us all". Have you been influenced at all by pop culture and kitsch in that sense?
terrors (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:52 IST)
Who are your favourite critics?
versace (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:54 IST)
Flaubert says "write on what is most urgent to you". Proust says "submit to your subject". What do you say?
versace (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:55 IST)
Do you think forms like the sonnet need to be revived??
nidus (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:56 IST)
I don't care much for people like Alain Robbe Grille or even Calvino. How seriously do you take their ideas???
versace (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:56 IST)
Who according to you are the finest writers writing in English today???
nidus (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:58 IST)
I also find Saul Bellow very overrated. What do you thihk of him. And that odious Philip Roth??
nidus (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:58 IST)
Okay bye
lampedusa (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:59 IST)
Thanks, Mr chaudhuri. All the best. May you win a booker some day.
sonnet (Mon Feb 14 19100 8:59 IST)
Bye
nagaraj (Mon Feb 14 19100 9:26 IST)
what did u think about writing novel? and follow the novel
dganguly (Mon Feb 14 19100 9:38 IST)
Mr. Chaudhuri, Do you think a lot of the new age Indian n oveels rely too much on magic realism and lacks originality?
sandesh (Mon Feb 14 19100 10:58 IST)
What inspires u to write
pinky (Mon Feb 14 19100 20:54 IST)
Hello Mr! which things are necessary for a good writer?
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