Serving Shankara
How does author and political advisor Pavan Varma choose the books he writes? He once went to Bahri in Delhi’s Khan Market, looking for a good book on Ghalib. He didn’t find any, so he wrote one. Recently, he again went to the bookshop looking for something on Shankaracharya. He didn’t find any, so his next book is on the saint.
Chew on This
Who'd have thought Rajnigandha pan masala would be the patron saint of literary festivals? The pan masala makers have been sponsors of the Front Lawns, the biggest venue of the Jaipur LitFest. Now, they present the Times Lit-Fest Delhi (Isn't chewing pan masala or zarda injurious to health?) It appears the brand has to be mentioned every time the fest’s name is taken, with a prominent logo. Manikchand and Pan Parag sponsoring a film award show is bad enough, but litfests?
Fun? Oh Yes!
When two introverts, both awkward before crowds, are placed on a dais and asked to launch a book, what happens? Fun happens. Leave-me-alone author Upamanyu Chatterjee met the equally reticent crime writer Zac O’Yeah at the Calcutta Club. When asked, Upamanyu readily agreed to launch O’Yeah’s Hari: A Hero For Hire, and initiate a discussion. When the time came, Upamanyu read out a long passage. He paused, then asked if anyone had any questions. No? Now, Zac will read a passage from the book. He did, for the next 15 minutes or so, and so they charmed an indulgent audience.
