In conversation with Roopa Ganguly - newly appointed member of the BJP in Bengal

Mahabharata, the magnum opus from B.R. Chopra, had stirred many an Indian’s life back in the day; I included. As a 7-year-old, I remember sitting glued to the TV set every Sunday morning, along with my family, and watching the epic drama unfold its various chapters. There were myriad characters in the series that touched our hearts, but for my mother it was the woman essaying the role of Draupadi who was the most impressive. “Do you know she is a Bengali?” she would tell me excitedly, “And look at her face! It’s so radiant and glowing!” I would generally ignore those comments and continue with the tele-serial.  

The series ended long back and I moved on with my life. Now, politics was never my area of interest but two major factors changed that. First was observing the meteoric rise of the Narendra Modi in Gujarat and watching him subsequently take the chair as the Prime Minister of India. It gave me new hope and belief that something good will at long last happen in my country. Second, being a Kolkatan, while I was growing up, I witnessed the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government take Bengal to very low levels. It was quite disheartening to see the dreary state Bengal had come to. And then came the rise of the Mamata Benrjee led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the further downfall of Bengal. Over the last three and a half years, as a citizen and a journalist, I have been appalled, frustrated and absolutely dejected to notice the pitiable levels my state has sunk to.

Then, a few weeks back, I read an article in a local newspaper where a leading Bengali actress had vehemently voiced her protest against the shambolic political state of affairs in Bengal. I was pleasantly surprised as celebrities generally refrain from taking any political stance in our country. About two weeks after this I got an even better news. The said actress had formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal – the main opposition party in the state presently. With this news, there was some hope in the air that something good might finally happen here. The journalist in me got excited and I began hunting her down for an interview. After about ten days of incessant pestering I finally got her to give me time for an interview at her home - in South Kolkata - last week. As I waited nervously in her study, my mind went back to the days of ‘Mahabharata’ once more. And, as if almost on Mr. B.R. Chopra’s cue, ‘Draupadi’ walked in.

Roopa Ganguly is a known and reputed name in Kolkata. She has close to 25 years of acting experience and is also known to have done some social work at the grassroots level. Presently, clad in a crisp yellow sari, she enquires about the theme of the interview. As I begin explaining her, I notice that the radiance and the glow in her face remain intact; even after 25 long years.

Over the course of the next two hours, I asked her all the questions that I wanted to – more as a citizen of the state than as a journalist. Suffice to say I was left satisfied and hopeful for a better tomorrow at the end of it. I sincerely hope that others from my state feel the same.

Excerpts from the interview

Q. You have been really active in your first few days in politics. You met the governor and you also visited Birbhum to meet the woman who was allegedly tortured by the police. So how have the first few days in the world of politics been like?

Roopa Ganguly:  I was prepared; for this hectic and tough life from a very long time. I always knew that nothing comes easy in life. As for politics, I knew that if I wanted to bring in change in Bengal (through the BJP), it will not be easy. The kind of situation we are in. The administration that we have currently in our state, things will be tough. But I am willing to fight it out. As I said, nothing in life comes easy. Since the time I have come in politics, I have been running around from one place to the other. It has been tough. Not just for me, but for all my party workers. It has been taxing and has caused us a lot of strain. But ultimately, I want to do something good for my state.

Q. How have friends and family reacted to this decision of yours?

Roopa Ganguly: Well, my mother wasn’t very happy. Many years ago, I had got offers from different political parties to join politics. I hadn’t done so and my mother was satisfied with that. She had told me that I am not politician material and would not be able to survive here. She felt that I am too straight a talker to sustain in this field. I had agreed then. But things have changed now and I have taken this decision.

Even today, I know that I am not much aware of our history. I fall short as far as political knowledge is concerned. However, I have a sincere dedication to learn. When I came into the film industry I was a novice. I was given an opportunity and I learned. Here too, I intend to do the same. I have conviction to work at the grassroots level and am confident I will pull it off.

Q. How politically motivated were you before you joined the BJP?

Roopa Ganguly: See, I wasn’t ever keenly interested as such in active politics. But I am a person who is pretty aware of her surroundings. I knew what was happening all these years and I knew where CPM was going wrong. I blame them primarily for not taking care of the education in the state. Education is a key thing for the development of any state and it is where CPM has failed miserably. And that is why our children from the state today are going haywire.

TMC meanwhile, when they were in the opposition, were very good. But now that they have come to power, they have disintegrated. They have made people believe that if you come into politics, you will get easy money. Their motto perhaps is: ‘Since we cannot create enough job opportunities for you, so come and join politics’. TMC is perhaps forgetting that they have to leave even their own children in this state. What will happen to them?

Politics is not about glamour, it is about responsibility. Unfortunately, politics has now become a dirty word in our state among the common citizens. We need to change that. And that is what has motivated me to take this plunge.

Q. You had said that you had got the invitation to join the BJP about a year back. What prompted you to take the decision now?

Roopa Ganguly: It is governance that is most important in today’s Bengal; good governance. And Mr. Narendra Modi talks about good governance. He has been able to convince people to love and respect their work. He has inspired many Indians, including me. Meanwhile, people are losing self-respect in Bengal. And hence, I decided to take this step. Under Mr. Modi’s leadership, I and my party members are confident and hopeful of changing Bengal’s scenario.

Q.  What would be the immediate areas that you would like to focus your efforts on if you get the opportunity?

Roopa Ganguly: If I ever get any chance to do anything for the state, I would like to focus on agriculture, environment, education, health, among others. We have to ensure that prevention of diseases is taken care of very efficiently and effectively. There is so much work to do in our state really.  

Q. People of Bengal are beginning to give up on the state; especially because of its twisted politics. At this time you had said that you want to ‘redefine’ politics in Bengal. Can you please elaborate how?

Roopa Ganguly:  I don’t want to talk big right now. I am not even a month old in politics. But yes, given a chance, I will try and do my kind of work in whatever area I get. The way I have done my work at the grassroots level all these years, I will do the same thing if my party finds me worthy enough. Even if it’s a small little area that I get, I will work for its overall development. 

And development doesn’t mean unnecessary splurging of money for so-called beautification that is being done now. That is a joke. That is fooling people to show them that you are doing something, while you are actually not. What we need is structured planning and spending money on things that will be beneficial to people like better roads, more public toilets, better health facilities and the likes.

Q. BJP’s poll campaign in Bengal has largely focused on the Saradha scam and the Burdawan blasts. But there are plenty more areas that can be highlighted here like the state of roads, transport, education and jobs, among other things. Would you personally like to change that and focus on other agendas as well now?

Roopa Ganguly: See, the Shardha scam and the Burdwan blasts are such major issues that they have taken the full concentration of the opposition party. They cannot be ignored. I hence cannot really blame them. So many people have lost money in massive proportions in the Saradha scam and thus have lost faith. Many families have been torn apart because of this. There was this organization - the Justice Shyamal Sen Commision (set up by the Bengal state government) - which was supposed to enquire into the Shardha scam. But unfortunately, this commission too turned out to be a scam. People were misled grossly by it again.

And as for the BJP, our election process hasn’t really started as of yet. We will most definitely focus our attention on all the areas that the state is suffering in currently. 

Q. You keep visiting different states for your professional work. Can you give us a little glimpse to the way the rest of the country is viewing Bengal these days?

Roopa Ganguly: It’s very sad and embarrassing really. I had gone to Delhi recently for some work. I had to meet this person in his office. The first thing he said to me was, “Bengal! It’s a ‘cholbe na! cholbe na! hobe na! korbo na!’ wala state.” I found it very humiliating.

As far as the film industry is concerned, not too many people want to come and shoot here in Bengal; because of anarchy, because of indiscipline and because people have learnt not to work here. This is the culture that has been created by various political parties over the decades here. And TMC is making matters worse. They, as I mentioned earlier, are making people believe that you can earn money without working and by just joining politics.   

But I am very hopeful that if BJP comes to power in Bengal, under Narendra Modi’s governance, people will get to see a positive side of the state. Bengal wasn’t like this all the time. We will bring it back to its former glory. This anarchy cannot and will not continue forever.

Q. You have done a fair bit of social work at the grassroots level in Bengal; especially in providing basic health care. Can you elaborate a bit on that?

Roopa Ganguly: I won’t say I have done a lot of work. It is peanuts as compared to what needs to be done. I need to do more work really. But I will share some of what I have done with you.

I run an NGO named Foundation for Innovation in Health. Our partner is John Hopkins University from USA. We work on the health sector by providing innovative health care equipments and treatments at low costs. We have a special skills training school (in Siuri – a small town in Birbhum, West Bengal) where we train young girls from different rural areas. After about six months of training these girls then return to their respective villages and serve the local people there. We have made kiosks at these places, where the girls do their work from. Moreover, we have doctors sitting in Kolkata, who, through the internet, provide their inputs as well.

The health care facilities in these rural areas are appalling. These poor people have to travel for six hours from their villages to Kolkata to get a simple blood test done! Things need to change drastically. I am, with the help of my team, trying to do that. Hopefully, we will extend these services throughout Bengal very soon.

Q. There have been quite a few actors who have taken to politics in Bengal over the past few years. People’s experience with them hasn’t been too great. You are a reputed actor. Do you fear that turning to politics might tar your image as well? Are you confident that you will be able to carry both of your professions tactfully now?

Roopa Ganguly: See, I am an actor and need to work to sustain my living. I can’t stop doing that. But I am not greedy. I look to work for about 2-3 films in a year and that is enough for me. Even though I get many offers, I decline them. I need more of my personal time as well you know. Be it social work or be it my political work, I need time for that. Plus, I like my free time. I like to be with my birds and trees and be satisfied from inside. That is very essential for me at a personal level.

And as for the second part of the question, I don’t think I need to assure anybody anything. When I had joined the acting profession, nobody knew me. But slowly, over the years, I have won the confidence of people and the industry through my work. I have worked for 25 years now and if I wasn’t good enough, people would have forgotten me isn’t it?  In politics too, I will let my work do the talking. If I am not efficient enough, my party and the people will throw me out.  

Q. The minority card is something that the TMC very shrewdly plays with. It is something that the common man in Bengal is really concerned with. What are your views on it?

Roopa Ganguly:  (Thinks for a moment) I believe in one thing- do not divide your people in the name of religion. If there is one thing that you should feel good about it is the country. We are Indians first and then whatever our religion is. To be honest, I don’t understand all this ‘minority’ business. You should not divide or appease any group of people by saying they should get more benefits or what not. Every Indian will get whatever he/she deserves on the basis of their ability. There should be no ‘isms’ in our country. To play political games in the name of religion is very unfortunate. It’s very sad.  You are actually dividing the country and it is just not fair.

Q. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now; both on a personal and professional level?

Roopa Ganguly: I am a happy and positive person and will always remain so. I am a no-nonsense person and will lead my life that way forever. I have never harmed or cheated anyone till date. And be it 5 years or 10; both in my profession and personal level, I will always remain the same.

Q. The last one. Draupadi was one of your career-defining roles. It will be 25 years this year since Mahabharata completed its run. How do you look back at that journey today?

Roopa Ganguly:  Mahabharata was always a beautiful experience. I look back at it very fondly. It was mainly because of the Chopras. They treated me like their own daughter and never let me feel out of place from day one. I have some beautiful memories of those days and will always cherish them. If somebody calls me a Draupadi today, I feel very proud. I feel happy and good that I have done at least one good work for which people remember me even after 25 years. I was lucky that I got to play that role and be a part of such a wonderful set-up. Those memories and experiences will always stay with me.

(Photos courtesy: Sumanta Chanda - Independent Filmmaker)

Aau Jo

Chapter 1 

I took tentative steps towards the small corridor and trotted along quietly. For some reason, I felt anxious. I had walked through this same passage several times before. Then why did I feel agitated today? The passage was dark and right at the end there were two adjoining rooms. I knew which one I had to enter. It was the likely place where I would find her. But the room right in the front caught my eye. There was a soft, soothing tune of a female voice coming in from there. I walked towards it.

The room’s door was closed. But I could see inside as the door was half-wood and half-net. There was a really old man seated comfortably on a rocking armchair inside. He was wearing really thick glasses and a white dhoti and kurta. He seemed lost in his thoughts and was gazing outside the open window of his room at the skies above. Beside the chair, was kept an old radio on a table which played the mellifluous song. I could hear the words very distinctly now.

Tu jahaan, jahaan chalega…Mera saaya, saath hoooga…

Tu jahaan, jahaan chalega…Mera saaya, saath hoooga…

Mera Saaya… Mera Saaya…

Mera Saaya…

The song. The words. Where had I heard them before? Why did it remind me of someone?

Mera Saaya… Mera Saaya…Mera Saaya…

Tearing my eyes away from the scene, I decided to move to the next room. The place I knew I would find her. The door was left ajar and I could hear faint voices from inside. I pushed the door aside and entered.

“Arre Chiku Bhai…!” said an old man with a glowing smile. He was wearing a very simple grey shirt and navy blue trousers. There was a twinkle in his eyes which calmed my nerves. “Jai Shri Krishna Nana,” I mumbled quietly.

The room was quite small and looked very homely. There were two beds in adjoining corners there and clothes lay spread on it. Although I had been here innumerable times before, I stared in amazement all around it. As if I had found a lost treasure.

“You are up early today. What do you want to eat for breakfast? Should I make parantha? Or poha? Or would you prefer something sweet like seera?” came an old woman’s voice which broke my reverie. She looked plump and wore a purple sari. She was standing in the small area that was the kitchen.  

“No Nani, I don’t want to eat anything right now,” I said and continued looking around; feeling dejected. I had expected to find her here.

“Of course you do. You are just eight years old. Your body needs nourishment. You love sweets isn’t it? Let me make seera then,” she said with a final authority; not expecting another answer from me. Turning her back, she became busy in the kitchen.

The old man, meanwhile, smiled at me and became engrossed in a newspaper. Sensing that the old couple was busy now, I decided to slip away from there. “I will come back for the seera Nani,” I promised myself and moved towards the door of the room. I felt restless and stepped out quietly. Giving up was not an option. I had to look for her.

…Nazar aaau, Ya na aaau, Tere paaas hongi mai bhi…

Tu koiiii, janam bhi lega…Mera saaya, saath hoooga…

Tu jahaan, jahaan Chalega…Mera saaya, saath hoooga…

Mera Saaya… Mera Saaya…

Mera Saaya… Mera Saaya…

The words. Each of them was reverberating across my soul. I turned my head and saw the old man in the rocking chair. He was till gazing outside; staying motionless. I had seen him before. Why couldn’t I recall his name?

I chose to walk ahead. The words of the song were now slowly fading away. But it still felt like someone was calling out to me.

Mera Saaya… Mera Saaya…

Mera Saaya… Mera Saaya…

I now came to a large, open, area. A few people were seated on chairs here. Some were sipping tea, while some read newspapers. She wasn’t among them.

“We need to get some new coolers. Udaipur’s temperature this year is getting unbearable,” exclaimed a man wearing a blue lungi, while he read a newspaper. He had shiny white hair and a well trimmed white moustache. But despite that, he looked quite young. His eyes fell on me and he smiled.

“Had a good night’s sleep?” he asked politely, “Ready for the trip to Gulab Bagh today evening?”

I nodded shyly. A woman, who was sitting near the man, then remarked, “Ah...Look at him! He is just eight years old and already so tall! Mark my words. One day, he will even cross Amitabh Bacchan’s height.”

There was animated laughter at this comment. I, however, wanted to get away from the scene, but a young boy with curly hair accosted me.

“Hey, you wanted those comics isn’t it? Today, I will take you to my friend who has this comic library in his home. You will love it. You can choose as many as you want,” he said excitedly; as if this meant a lot to him.

I smiled. Normally, I would have been elated at this news. But today was different. Today, I sought something else.

I noticed that everyone was now engaged in their own conversations. Without making a sound, I moved out of the open area and walked towards the staircase outside. I had a strong feeling where she would be now.

One by one, I now began climbing the stairs, even as my heart pounded in excitement.

I came to the first floor landing. It was deserted. Only a lanky old man, wearing a loose, white vest, was brushing his teeth outside his room. He looked at me, but did not smile; just continued his task. From inside his room, I could hear the muffled noise of news being read in Hindi. I walked on; climbing the next set of stairs with anticipation.

As I neared the end of the stairs leading to the terrace, I heard the dulcet tones of a woman’s voice. My heart skipped a beat. I knew that voice as well as I did myself! With trembling legs, I climbed the rest of the stairs and came to the terrace. The voice now became more distinct. It was a chant.

Om Suryaya Namah! Om Suryaya Namah! Om Suryaya Namah!

Om Suryaya Namah! Om Suryaya Namah! Om Suryaya Namah!

That chant. I had woken up to it innumerable times. I was gasping for breath and could literally hear my heart thumping madly. I followed the voice cautiously and came behind a half-constructed brick wall. Steadying myself, I peeped out.

There she was! Finally! Clad in a peacock blue gown, she was chanting the shlokas rhythmically. Her eyes were closed and were facing the morning sun. Her palms were folded and she chanted so dedicatedly as if her life depended on those words. Her hair was damp and every other feature of her face glowed radiantly. She looked pristine.

Om Suryaya Namah! Om Suryaya Namah! Om Suryaya Namah!

Om Suryaya Namah! Om Suryaya Namah! Om Suryaya Namah!

Each syllable of the chant seemed to permeate every cell of my body. I stood there and gaped at her hungrily. I wanted to drink in as much I could of the moment.

Finally, her chants stopped and she opened her eyes. She looked directly at me, calmly; as if she knew all along I would be here. She smiled.

My lips quivered and I couldn’t hold back any longer. Hot tears began leaking from my eyes before I could even realize it. I wanted to say so much, but couldn’t muster the courage. Taking in deep gulps, I cried, “Maa…!”

                                                                                                           

Somewhere deep within the lanes of Kolkata, a 30-year-old man woke up with a start.  

  

Interview with ‘mythology-fiction writer’ Anuja Chandramouli

There is something really fascinating about Indian mythology. From as far as my memory goes, I had always been captivated with the deliciously complex yet spectacular stories it told. Being an avid reader from a young age, the likes of Chandamama and Amar Chitra Katha really helped me compound my interest in Indian mythology. As the years rolled by, this interest never died and I have always sought different mediums that can help me quench my thirst for it.

Fortunately, from the past few years, there has been a sudden splurge in books pertaining to Indian mythology. The Shiva trilogy, The Krishna Key, The Palace of Illusions, Ajaya, Asura, among a plethora of other books, has really helped spark a keen interest in Indian mythology among Indian readers. Another book in the same genre, ‘Arjuna- Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince’ by 30-year-old author Anuja Chandramouli, had created quite a buzz when it had released a couple of years back (it was listed by Amazon India as one of the top 5 books in Indian writing for the year 2013). The book, which retold the story of the epic Mahabharata from Arjuna’s perspective, met with a favourable response from readers.

And now, Anuja, who apart from being a passionate writer, is also a classical dancer and mother to two little girls, is back with her second offering: Kamadeva: The God of Desire. Very little is known about Kama, who is more renowned as the Indian version of the cupid than a standalone God in his own right. Thus, a book entirely dedicated to him should be rather interesting. In this interview, the talented author from Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, tells us more about the book, shares her views on this current fad of Indian mythology books, elaborates a bit on her fears as a writer and much more. Read on!

Excerpts from the interview

Q. Why choose Kamadeva as the title character of your second book? Was it a deliberate attempt to go for a relatively lesser-known God after Arjuna?

Anuja Chandramouli: I think it would be safe to say that Kama chose me rather than the other way around. In my ramblings through mythology, he had turned up here and there but I had scarcely bothered with him. Then, all of a sudden when I was mulling over possible ideas for a second book, he showed up seemingly out of nowhere and captured my imagination. There was nothing deliberate or even logical about my choice but while writing his story, Kama became very real to me and remains a special someone in my life.

Originally, I had envisioned him as a Casonova who was irresistible in a hard – edged sort of way. But Kama turned out to be sweet, sensitive and a thorough gentleman. He is the sort of guy women learn to appreciate after giving up on the bad boys!

Q. How confident are you that his life would be interesting enough to hold readers’ attention for 300-odd pages?

Anuja Chandramouli: Kama is a fascinating, thoroughly loveable character and like me, I am confident that my readers will not be able to get enough of him. Since he is one of the lesser-known Gods, both mythology virgins as well as scholars will enjoy thumbing through my tome, delighting in the nuggets of forgotten lore that my research has thrown up as well as the creative license that went into shaping his elusive persona.

Q. Have you received any genuine feedback for the book thus far? In fact, on the same vein, do you listen to your readers’ feedback/criticism and advice keenly and keep it in mind before you attempt another piece of writing or do you just continue the way you feel is good for you?

Anuja Chandramouli: The feedback, I have received thus far has been very encouraging. Barring one critic who accused me of trying his patience, most of my other readers have opined that I have grown as a writer. Interestingly, more than one has encouraged me to try my hand at pure fiction.

Regarding the next part of the question, I value all the suggestions and criticism meted out by my readers. Some of them are so encouraging that I can literally live off their compliments, whereas others are unafraid to point out areas in my writing that could use improvement and some have suggested that the best thing for me to do in life would be to retire my pen. Be that as it may, I enjoy hearing from readers. That being said writing to me is my alternate reality and private domain. It is a world where I am the reigning monarch and my will is the supreme authority. Therefore, it is not a position I am anxious to relinquish.

Q. What research did you do for Kamadeva, about whom very little is known from Indian mythology books?

Anuja Chandramouli: The research process was exhaustive and there were hairy moments for me on account of the dearth of material on the God of Desire. At one point, I was worried that Kama existed solely for lovers to declaim that they had been struck by his infallible arrows and I might be better off writing about the famous thunderbolt that struck Michael Corleone and led to such tragic consequences for the Godfather in waiting.

Seriously, though I have an obsessive – compulsive side to me and never has it been better employed! Long story short, the Puranas which are so dear to me did not let me down and my imagination aided by intuition made up for the deficits. Finally, at the risk of sounding fanciful and more than a little delusional, Kama helped as well!

Q. There has been a recent splurge among Indian authors writing on Indian mythology. Does that add to the pressure? Do you feel that you can carve out your own loyal reader base from this particular market?

Anuja Chandramouli: Most people would consider it a weakness to suck at number work and market analysis the way I do but as far as I am concerned it is a huge asset because my lack of awareness about such things liberates me from the attendant pressures and insecurities. People are forever telling me that it was clever of me to cash in on the hottest trend in the literary world and I nod politely or smile blankly but it was hardly a carefully thought out move on my part. Indian mythology is something I have been passionate about even as a child and it is something I’ll remain hopelessly in love with long after it is no longer fashionable to do so.

Q. On the same subject, why do you feel there has been this sudden interest in Indian mythology books? The TV serials don’t seem to work, but the books certainly do.

Anuja Chandramouli: This craze for Indian mythology exists for the same reason that has propelled the rise of the selfie and other assorted pop – cultural phenomena. These things just are and there is no explaining them.

Personally, though, it is my belief that India has rediscovered its mythology because it represents the zenith of glory we once attained while holding out the hope that someday we will recapture everything that was the best of what it means to be Indian. In today’s climate when there is so much about our country that is insupportable, be it the lack of safety for women or children, the rampant intolerance or the ever increasing gulf between the haves and have-nots mythology offers a certain comfort and reassurance that is hard to resist.

Q. Where did your interest in Indian mythology come from? What was your inspiration for it?

Anuja Chandramouli: My interest in mythology sparked at an early age since it is a treasure trove of the best stories that have ever been compiled. Like everybody who loves reading, books or stories will tell you, the mark of a good story is that you don’t ever want it to end. Indian mythology is exactly like that fabled saga. You can devote a lifetime to plumbing its unfathomable depths and you will never be done unearthing the delicious secrets it has to offer. Familiar yarns never become boring because there is always some insight, some detail which was missed the previous time.

Q. What is the best book that you have read in this genre?

Anuja Chandramouli: This one is a no-brainer. It has to be Veda Vyasa’s Mahabaratha. There will never be another storyteller like him.

Q. Indian mythology is so vast and complex. What other topics do you wish to write on from it?

Anuja Chandramouli: Fortunately, there are so many avenues for me to explore in this genre. Like Kama, I am hoping many more interesting characters will turn up in my world of their own accord and spare me the hassle of figuring out what I want to write about next!

Q. Western countries adapt their mythology very prominently into films and similar modes of entertainment. India has perhaps the most comprehensive mythology there is. Why do you think we aren’t able to adapt better stories from our mythology for films and television? And if given a chance, which Indian mythological character’s story would you like to adapt into a film?

Anuja Chandramouli: Honestly, I have not really thought about it. Possibly it is a good thing that Bollywood has not bothered with mythology because it would definitely be a daunting undertaking and few of the current crop of directors will be up to it, talented though they are. As a purist, I shudder to think of some chiseled wannabe Greek – God with 20 pack abs playing Shiva like a preening peacock or a simpering starlet in clingy couture playing Draupadi with spray – on tan.

Q. Would you mind if you would be labeled as a ‘mythology- fiction writer’ or would you want to change that by writing books on different genres as well?

Anuja Chandramouli: I’ll admit that it gives me a kick to be referred to as a mythology – fiction writer, a new –age classicist or whatever but it is not how I view myself. My first book, Arjuna was an inspired retelling while Kamadeva is a twisted romance so I don’t feel confined to any particular genre. In future, it is my intention to dabble in horror, psychological thrillers, historical fiction or maybe even a tragi-comedy!

Q. You had said recently that ‘The entire process of writing a book is extremely lonely’. Can you elaborate? And can you also shed light on how do you motivate yourself through these phases of loneliness?

Anuja Chandramouli: When writing, I tend to zone out and it feels like I am cut off from everybody even if it is largely by choice. But the thing is even when you write mostly for yourself there is a desperate need to be read by others and in the early days, my biggest fear was that nobody would care about my stories, that I would be doomed to spend a lifetime carrying out inner monologues in my head without ever giving the words a voice. It is terrifying to feel that way and I get over it by giving myself a swift mental kick or stress – eating like there is no tomorrow.

It is the reason why I appreciate all the readers out there who not only care about the stuff I write but feel the urge to reach out and share with me the feelings my books evoke in them, never realizing that my need to hear them say so is so damnably great.

Q. So what are your future plans? Would the plans for your next book be based on the response you get for ‘Kamadeva’?

Anuja Chandramouli: My next book is about a mysterious Goddess and it will be out in 2015. I am very excited about it, since it is unlike anything I, or anybody else for that matter has ever written about her. It will be very interesting to see how it is received and I am dizzy with anticipation!

This one’s for you, Nana!

Like several times before this, another year is coming to a close yet again. And yet again, the first thing that we will think of tomorrow morning is, “How did the year go by so fast?” However, another thing that we are all likely to do is to reflect on the year gone by. We would all have had our highs and lows and all of us would hope for a smoother drive next year.

I too, like several others, had a topsy-turvy ride this year. There were some very good times and memories, fused with the tough ones. However, there was one incident that left a major impact on me this year: the death of my Nana (maternal grandfather).

That humid June morning, when I received the news, I was busy at my workplace; already having a bad day for some reason. My brother doesn’t usually call at odd hours and when I saw his number ringing at that time, my subconscious mind told me that something was wrong. Without exchanging pleasantries, he told me the news straightaway: “Nana is no more.” I was jolted out of my reverie and did not know how to react to this. I remember being completely numb for about a minute and then somehow finishing the conversation. This was a news that had been inevitable for some time. My Nana was in his late-80s and I knew, deep down inside, that I would have to bear with this unpleasant news someday. But death is something which is not easy to accept. The next couple of days were the worst that I had had in a very long time. I could not concentrate on anything and developed a fever. All day long, I had flashes of my Nana and the moments I had spent with him. With his passing, I felt as if a part of my childhood too had been taken away from me.

The love that you receive from your grandparents is truly unconditional. There is no give and take there. There is only give from their side while you receive everything. I was extremely blessed to have found a couple of grandparents whose love for me remains constant throughout.

My Nana was an extremely simple, pure and hardworking man with a big heart. Throughout my life, I had never seen him get angry or raise his temper at anyone. He would wear a simple, loose-fitting half-shirt for work along with trousers. In fact, even at marriage functions, I never saw him wearing anything extravagant. It was always the same old half-shirts with dark trousers.

Like his attire, Nana’s overall demeanor too was absolutely simple. He was a jovial person and had the quality of fitting in with any age group. With Nana, there was never a dull moment. Our room in Udaipur would always be filled with boisterous laughter whenever he would be around. All of us young ones would be attracted to him and his wonderful assortment of anecdotes that would leave us in splits. We would swarm around him like bees and he would retell his stories with great gusto.

It was perhaps these endearing qualities of his that made me connect with him from a very early age. From as far as my memory takes me, I remember the first thing I would do as I would enter through the massive gates of my home in Udaipur, would be to rush to my grandparents’ room. The way Nana would greet me as a child still lingers fresh in my mind. It was reminiscent of the way perhaps Santa Claus would greet children before giving them gifts. “Arrre Chiku Bhai…!” he would exclaim with the most glowing smile and slap me lightly on the back as I would bend to touch his feet. In fact, he was one of those rare people whose smile reached his eyes; and there was always a child-like twinkle in them.

                                                                                                               -------------------

Nana had a small snacks shop named ‘Raam Bharose’, situated in Udiapole (a busy lane of Udaipur), where he had spent more than half of his life. It was customary then, on all my summer trips to Udaipur, to visit his shop during the day. I remember holding his hands and jostling through the busy bazaar of Udaipole, as he would often take me to his shop. There, he had a worker named ‘Hira’ who would treat me as a prince and would offer me the best of Gaanthiya (a Gujarati snack) and Mohanthal (a Gujarati sweet) on a platter. As I would quietly munch them inside the dingy confines of the shop, I would often observe Nana busy with his work; checking the accounts, overseeing the preparation of the food and above all tending to the customers. In fact, most of the people who would come to the shop came to listen to Nana’s entertaining collection of stories. Like in my home, here too, there would never be a dull moment with Nana around and vociferous laughter would often be heard after every few statements of his.

More than all this though, the one thing that really impressed me about Nana was his unflinching devotion to his work. I never saw him get bogged down by it and even at the age of 80, he dutifully went to his shop everyday and returned well past midnight. His honesty and dedication were well renowned everywhere in the bazaar and people revered him for that. Incidentally, when I had visited Udaipole a couple of months back with my cousin, I met a few people there. The moment they came to know that I was Nana’s grandson, they took me aside and gave me the royal treatment; such was his respect.

I also recall Nana fondly for the delicious sweets and snacks he brought for me every evening I would be there in Udaipur. My favourite were of course the gulab jamuns and the jalebis that he brought from a particular sweet shop in Udiapole. No matter wherever I would be, come evening and I would rush to my grandparents’ room to gorge on those delicacies. Those simply exquisite gulab jamuns were small and soft and would just melt in my mouth. I would nonchalantly gulp down dozens of these at one go, much to the delight of my Nana. From the corner of my eye, I could always feel him fondly watching me eat. He would often tell my mother that I was a true ‘billa’ of sweets! So much changed in my life all these many years, but with every trip to Udaipur, this tradition never changed. Even after Nana had sold his shop much later in his life, he would always ensure that whenever I was there, a bowl of gulab jamuns and jalebis would be ready for me in the evening.

It were these small things that had brought me so close to Nana. In fact, I recall an incident, when I was about 5-6 years old and was in Udaipur for my annual summer vacation, which sort of epitomizes my relation with him back then. For some reason, which I don’t remember, Nana had to leave for a few days and all of us had come to see him off at the Udaipur station. My little brain could not fathom the fact that Nana would have to leave me and as the train began chugging out slowly and he began waving us goodbye, I completely broke down. In fact, I was positively bawling and my mother was holding my arms with all her strength as I grappled with her and squealed “Nana! Nana! Please don’t go!”  Onlookers gaped at me but I did not care, I just wanted to be with my Nana.

Years later, he told me once that the incident had left him shaken as well. “You made me cry that day you know. For a minute, I felt like abandoning my trip and getting down from that train and be with you,” he had told me with a smile. I was a tad embarrassed and surprised to know this for I had always imagined Nana as this strong guy with a lot of life, love and heart. I could never imagine him going weak. The only time I had seen Nana breaking down was during my mother’s death; it is an image that always leaves me shuddering. “The diamond of my life has been taken away from me,” he had said to me then, shaking in grief.

Ever since that fateful day, Nana had mellowed down quite a bit. He would still joke around but somehow that spark had gone missing from him. He would still smile, but it would not reach his eyes now. Nevertheless, he was still the same affable and pure-hearted soul filled with all the love in the world till the very end. He never expected anything from anyone and only wished to give; a trait that is almost impossible to find in people these days. 

Today, Nana is no more, but his memories will always remain inside me. For like a famous quote from the Harry Potter series goes: “The ones we love never really leave us.” And Nana too, I know, will never leave me. Yes, life would be a little empty without him. Udaipur will never be the same without his presence. But he will live on. And I will never ever forget him. Whenever I will walk past the walls of my home in Udaipur again, I will miss his effervescent greetings, his glowing smile and the twinkle in his eyes. And above all, his cheerful laughter will reverberate in my soul till I stop breathing.

Oh yes, I will remember him. I always will. And someday, years later, when I will be strolling through the bazaars of Udaipur again, I will visit that sweet shop and buy a couple of piping hot gulab jamuns and jalebis. But before I place them in my mouth, I will raise a toast to him and quietly whisper, “This one’s for you Nana! This one’s for you.”