Interview with Manu Joseph

Manu Joseph – a renowned name in the field of journalism seeks no introduction. But we shall tell you a tad bit about him anyways.

Formerly Features Editor of the The Times of India, Manu Joseph has also written for Conde Nast's wired.com, and the UK Independent.  He was shortlisted for Society magazine's Young Achiever Award and in a website survey among Indian journalists, he was voted 'The Most Stylish Writer'. In 2007, he was a Chevening Scholar, an annual award by the British government for 12 journalists who will shape opinions in the future.
Currently the Editor-in-Chief of OPEN Magazine, he is based in Mumbai.

SERIOUS MEN, his first novel, won the 2010 Hindu Best Fiction Award and is longlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize.
BookChums features an exclusive interview of this serious man.

Your portrayal of Mani seems to be from a detached observer's point of view. But at the same time, one can detect a sense of affection for Acharya. Could it be that you identify with or like one of the characters more than the rest?
It is interesting that several people have told me that my affection for Acharya is coming through. I don’t identify myself with either Ayyan Mani or Acharya. It is just that Ayyan Mani is portrayed in an uncompromising way and we find his interpretation of modern India somewhat uncomfortable. On the other hand, Acharya is an honest avuncular figure. It is possible that my alleged affection for Acharya is partly because he is fundamentally a more likeable character than Ayyan.

You've said in an interview that you went into writing novels fearlessly, coming from a journalist background. Do you think that plays a role in how your characters and story turn out?
Not at all. Being a journalist helps you at a more basic level – You are trained to write. You have put thousands of hours into writing and that gives you some insights into the craft of writing though there are elements of fiction-writing that you have to learn as you go through the process of writing your first fiction.

Writing as a media person, there's always a social angle, some message to be delivered. Even this book tries to do that. Can or will you write books which will have less of social commentary?
I do not like novels that are social commentaries. That people derive social meaning from my novel is purely incidental. That was not my intention. Social-commentary novels are so boring.

Do you think the Niira Radia tapes controversy will ever leave you? Do you think that has leveraged the success of your first book?
It has done nothing for my book and I hope it contributes nothing.

Your book has been often compared to Adrvind Adiga's Booker winning The White Tiger? What do you think about that?
I can understand why people see similarities between the two but those who have read both usually accept that these are two very different novels.

Looking at the Indian fiction genre, there are so many authors, what were your thoughts before entering the army of Indian authors, did you fear that you would be labeled 'just another Indian author'and what is reason you attribute which took you to the top?- Hitesh Ratnani (Reader Submitted Question)
Strangely, I have no opinions about Indian writing in English. People have asked me what I think of this body of work and I cannot say anything meaningful about it.  I have read very few works of fiction by Indians. I have always considered myself a regional writer who merely happens to write in English. As for what took me “to the top”, I really don’t think I am at the top of anything, sadly.

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