Ashim Choudhury has attracted some notice with his recently published novel ‘The Sergeant’s Son’ published by Rupa. Here he takes
some time off to answer questions e-mailed to him by India Post wherein he talks candidly about the making of the novel, his career with UN, his hobby of painting and future plans:
India Post: Tell us about your background and your journey into writing?
Ashim Choudhury: I’m an out-of-work journalist, doing consultancies, writing, editing. In my spare time I also paint particularly when I’m traveling to the hills. I’ve worked as a public Information officer with the UN for several years, was also there at the UN Missions in Liberia and Sudan. If all goes well I might go back to Africa with one of the UN Missions. I hope to write a book on my African experience some day.
IP: What prompted you to write a story about ‘The Sergeant’s Son’
AC: My father was in the air force. The story of my childhood was something deeply embedded in my psyche. Memories of childhood were something I cherished and held close to my heart. As a child I did dream of being a journalist. The idea of writing a book came in 1977. I was also in the Air Force then, undergoing my training. I would spend a lot of time in the library reading as I could hardly relate with the fellow recruits around me. After I finished reading a book by Dom Moraes; it was an autobiography. I told myself,” The story of my own life would be much interesting.” That’s when the idea of writing this book first germinated. But it was not until twenty years later, three years after I had quit Air force and a year after I had quit a regular job in journalism that I began to write. I was with the UNDP in India then.
IP: So the story is autobiographical?
AC: ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. I’ll say it’s largely inspired by my own life. But it’s not an authentic autobiography.
IP: Does the novel have any parallel to your own childhood?
AC: As I have already said it’s largely drawn from my own childhood. Kalu, the main protagonist, is me to a large extent. So, yes, there is a parallel to my childhood.
IP: How do you think your novel will appeal to Indian Americans?
AC: Why just Indian-Americans? I think it should universally appeal to a lot of people from the English speaking world. They will find it exotic in a way. The book is a portrayal of a bygone era in India. Most Indian readers in their fifties and sixties will be able to connect with their own lives. The book has its own resonance even today. I remember a lady, the wife of a Sergeant telling me. ‘My son read it and said, ‘Ma this book talks of the same things that you also talk about.’ The boy was drawing parallels between his own mother and Basanti in the novel. I think that was a great compliment. For an airman’s son today to see clear parallels with his own life – I think that an achievement.
IP: How would you describe your book?
AC: It’s not a typical novel with a plot. You can call it a social-reality family saga that depicts the angst of a little boy who is talented and wants to become an artist. The story is told from the boy’s point of view. It is a portrayal of lower-middle class life in the India of the sixties and seventies. The reality has not changed for millions of poor children in India who may be talented but cannot follow their dreams for want of money. And then we have this culture deeply ingrained in us, ‘Baap mochi to beta bhi mochi.’ The dynasty syndrome in our polity is also a reflection of this.
IP: Would you sympathies with the Blacks and minorities in America?
AC: Well ‘The Sergeant’s Son’, in a way, is about class struggle. Yes it also touches upon the issue of color discrimination. Kalu is acutely conscious of his dark complexion. It gives him an inferiority complex. The novel sympathizes with the underdog, deals with little unfulfilled dreams and ambitions. Talking of Blacks and minorities in America I am reminded of that book, ‘To kill a Mockingbird’ The Sergeant’s Son has certain parallels to that famous book.
I guess much has changed now. A few years could you have ever thought of a Black American President? But yes there’s a lot of discrimination in the world. Discrimination works at several layers. Visit Delhi’s bungalow zone then go to one of the low-end areas like Mongolpuri or Shahadra and you’ll know what I’m talking about. In the bungalow zone the municipal corporation works like clockwork, in other areas it doesn’t. The Maoist upsurge you are seeing in swathes of India is partly a result of that discrimination. If I was a Muslim living in America, I guess I could have answered your question better.
IP: How was the experience of getting your first book published?
AC: Not a very pleasant one, I would say. Publishers often tend to treat you with disdain. Getting someone to review your manuscript seriously is not an easy task unless you are famous. My manuscript was first given to one publishing house who I kept chasing and chasing and was finally told, ‘Sorry, we’ve misplaced it!’ This kind of a thing happens all the time, particularly when you are a beginner.
IP: Any interesting anecdote that you would like to share?
AC: There was this editor – looking after the publishing arm of a news organization where I worked. I thought this was my opportunity. When I took the manuscript to her she said, ‘What’s this about?’ I told her it was about my own life. ‘Why would anyone be interested to read about your life?’ she asked. I had no plausible answer. She immediately handed me back the manuscript!
IP: And now…Have you tasted success…? How has the response been so far?
AC: This is another grey area. There are no clear systems in place to find out how your book is selling. The publishers don’t tell you. Honestly, I don’t know how the book is selling. Maybe I’ll know after I get my first batch of royalty! But the reviews have been very encouraging. And, more importantly, feedback from ordinary people.
IP: Is there a sequel to the book. For instance, how the life of the protagonist shaped up?
A lot of people have asked me this question. Yes, a sequel is coming, on what happens to Kalu after he joins the Air Force. It’s hilarious! I’m also working on a book of short stories.
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