Actually, my first books to get attention were three short crime novels—The Iron Bra, Murder & Champagne, and Ten Dead Admen—also hailed as 'the first crime novels in English' by an Indian author. Vertigo was written first and sold first, but published fourth. The crime novels got a fair bit of nationwide attention and gave me a label that was tough to shrug off later. Even Vertigo was mistaken for a crime novel, and as recently as 2003, journalists were still assuming that my Ramayana series was some kind of a modern-day thriller reworking of the epic!
Frankly, Vertigo was a novel. The fact that it was autobiographical in parts, and intensely so—the title refers to the sensation that reading the novel evokes in the reader, by the way—is incidental. There's as much fiction as fact in it, and even my Ramayana books are very autobiographical, although only I know where and how. To me, it was my first successful attempt at capturing the kind of realistic detailed quasi-journalistic style that I regard as the most important literary effect of late 20th-century literature. Is that too pompous?
Sorry, but I'm just trying to tell you that I take my clues from journalism and non-fiction, and to me, something is fiction or non-fiction only in terms of labels. In reading terms, it simply is what it is, a story. The fact that it's based on truth, or not, is irrelevant to me.
For instance, I could be a fictional construct you made up and posed questions to for this interview, and then answered yourself. What does it matter that I'm a real person? It doesn't to me.
Bizarre as it sounds, it's at heart of my philosophy of writing. To blur the lines between reality and fiction.
You started out as a journalist, do you want to describe what that was like? You have some pretty strong opinions on the state of journalism in India right now, did that play a part in your deciding to focus more on novel writing? Or was the timing just right?
I started out writing everything: poetry, essays, fiction; but it was the poetry and essays that found publication first. Also, I realized early on that while journalism didn't pay much, there was a great need for writers who could comment on contemporary issues—or report on them. And I loved reporting, much more than commenting. To me, even fiction is reporting—except that one is reporting on things taking place in an imaginary place inside oneself, not out there in the real world.
Article comments
1 - Mickey
Excellent interview !! Here's hoping things are better in Bombay....
2 - Mickey
This gentleman seems to be a budding Indian JK Rowling...
3 - Aaman
Great stuff, gypsyman - I've read Mr Banker's early novels as well - they were interesting, if derivative, yet different from the rest of the Indian English scene.
What about Byculla Boy - that was originally a 900-page manuscript that was published as a 250-page book. I hear he is re-publishing it.
4 - Aaman
Also, what news of the Mahabharata series he was working on? and the film work
5 - gypsyman
Stayed tuned for part two today! But he was extremly reluctant to talk about any forthcoming projects...refering people to his website and blog for more information as progects are developed.
But that being said, I did get him to talk about the "movie" which it turns out is not a movie...you'll see what I mean.
6 - Ashok K. Banker
Hi Aaman, all,
Those who know me also know that I much prefer answering questions directly, individually, rather than tomtomming things in an interview or through the mass media. I am indeed trying to re-edit my original manuscript of Byculla Boy and hope to republish it sometime in 2006. It is linked to my other novel Vertigo, which I was able to republish earlier this year and which is a personal favourite. The book and 'video essay' or docufeature Beautiful Ugly are also directly related to Vertigo and Byculla Boy.
I am already writing the Mahabharata and you should see the first book The Seeds of War in Indian bookstores by end 2006. To know more about my other projects, you're welcome to visit my website and blog, or to email me directly.
Best wishes
Ashok
7 - JOSEPHINE
MY DAUGHTER AND I READ YOUR BOOK, Prince Of Ayodhya ...AND ENJOYED IT SO VERY MUCH...LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE OTHERS NOW THAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED YOU....MY GODSON LIVES IN KANPUR, INDIA AND I TRY TO READ AS MUCH ABOUT HIS COUNTRY AS POSSIBLE...THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL STORY WITH US..SINCERELY...JOSEPHINE D.
8 - Ashok Banker
Hi Josephine,
Thanks for those wonderful heart-warming words. Always a pleasure to know I brought something new into the lives of total strangers!
If you wish, you could visit my official website and perhaps join in our Epic India group or simply browse through the forums. You'll find many interesting discussions on India and all things Indian there, including (but not only about) my books.
And I do hope you enjoy reading the rest of the series as much as you did the first book.
9 - Vijay Kurhade
any way to contact this author bu email
10 - gypsyman
Vijay
Unforntunately Ashok has had to stop responding to emails because he was receiving far to many annoying requests as well as harrassment. If you want to get in touch with him, you can visit his web site www.epicindia.com, where there is an area to leave comments. He will always respond.
There is also a forum on the site which he posts at regularly, and responds to posts addresed to him, or if you really want direct access you can also apply to join his yahoo group. There are links to all of these things at his web portal.
cheers
gypsyman
11 - NERISHA
DEAR MR BANKER
I HAVE READ 3 OF YOUR BOOKS, FIRST BEING DEMONS OF CHIRAKAUT, THEN SEIGE OF MITHILIA AND EVENUTALLY THE PRINCE OF AYODAYA -WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING - YOUR STORY-TELLING IS WONDERFUL - CANNOT WAIT TO READ THE OTHER BOOKS I AM TRYING TO GET A FRIEND WHO WILL VISIT INDIA SOON TO PURCHASE ALL YOUR BOOKS SOON. ALSO READ SOME SECTIONS OF THE BOOKS TO MY CHILDREN - AGED 13 AND 7 - BOTH WERE IN AWE
WE LOOK FORWARD TO READING THE BALANCE OF YOUR BOOKS
REGARDS
NERISHA
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA
12 - pranav
mr banker yo are simply superb in ur writng and imagination skills
13 - shen nalwalla
would like to buy in bombay a copy of byculla boys .where do i find it?
14 - Ashok Banker
Nerisha, thank you for those kind words. It would have been nicer had you read the books in order, but thanks anyway!
Pranav, thank you so much. I hope to keep living up to your (high) expectations.
Shen, Byculla Boy is out of print and will not be republished again anytime in the foreseeable future. Even I don't have a copy of the book.
15 - Suchi Chatterjee
Hello Ashok
I just purchased a UK copy of one of your books the second part of the Ramayana not realizing it wasn't the real Mccoy, I bought it at a local bookstore in town in Brighton, UK and thought I would try and get the first part on line and that was when I read your review.
How can I get an Indian copy, the one that you recommend?
I really want to read it but I want the REAL thing not something that the author is saying isn't the real thing!
Hope you can help.
Regards
Suchi
16 - shubhra shah agarwal
dear ashokji,
not fair...
you must be wondering why i wrote that...just being funny...
my friend komal khanna who just wrote to you...
well i had given her the books u wrote to read!!!
i had bought your entire series hardcover last year and found them enthralling..amazing..
but just did not think of writing to you...anyway just thought i let you know that.....
when are the mahabharata series coming out..cant wait......
shubhra shah agarwal
17 - shubhra shah agarwal
dear ashokji i wish you were on teh face book for all your fans....