Author Siddharth Chowdhury plucks out searing tales from the heart of Patna and Delhi in a new book
Siddharth Chowdhury
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For Siddharth Chowdhury, whatever he writes is actually adding up to a novel, one that he never plans to finish. So Ritwik & Hriday, a compilation of three of his books, could be considered a process of this adding up. Though not as the novel, it adds up as a device; a tool to guide you into his universe. This universe, at one level, is of twins — Delhi and Patna — of '80s and '90s. But much more is released through his prose: truths, emotions and moments that are unique to the place and time.
Chowdhury's stories stay far from the obligations and stereotypes that have overcome writing about the non-white world. No magic, no exoticism and no obsession with culture. No moral emancipation or spiritual answers either. His protagonists are failed writers, dreamers, lovers and revolutionaries whose worlds are populated by eclectic cinema and literature in a dusty and often devastating setting.
In one story, the protagonist's meandering thoughts are guided mostly in dialogue with Mirza Ghalib, his literary hero, and in another Jack Kerouac, the star of beat literature looks over the struggles of a writer. It is difficult to think of any comparison or trace an influence but one wonders if the characters of Chowdhury are born in Kerouac's world and transported to Patna drunk on Martin Scorsese. But then again there is plenty to make you think otherwise. Each story leaves behind its own epiphany.
Excerpts from an interview:
You have mentioned earlier that all your works are a novel in progress. How much of the novel does this book have?
I do feel that in all my writing, I am working towards that one big novel that I will never ever finish. Diksha is more of a bare-boned blueprint of all my writing but the novels, Patna Roughcut and Day Scholar, are more connected in a traditional way along with The Patna Manual
of Style.
In many stories, the characters are aspiring authors. Why?
Writers whether unpublished or published seem utterly fascinating. It is an abiding theme.
Does the name Ritwik for multiple characters have anything to do with Ritwik Ghatak, considering your love for cinema?
Of course. Ritwik Ray is my homage to Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak.
How do you balance your publishing job with the writing routine?
Well, I mostly write early in the morning or on the weekends. It just takes me a few years longer to complete a book than if I did it full time. Writing a novel is like making love. The slower you do it, the better it is. For everyone concerned.
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