I think that journalism in India right now, like elsewhere, is reduced to entertainment. There's more trash in the media today than in the bins of Bombay's streets. What we call the Page 3 culture here—party news, pics, gossip—and film and show biz celebrity coverage has taken over real journalism completely. The emphasis is on what makes the most interesting news.
I don't believe this is reader-driven; it's a conscious decision by publishers to appeal to a certain section of readership—the most illiterate and least-intelligent section. In India at least, there are many intellectually alive, educated, well-read people to sustain a newspaper, and the massive circulation of a Delhi newspaper like Hindustan Times, proves this point. It's entirely a choice here to publish (or to write or report on) party lifestyles and the rich and famous, rather than report honestly and comment incisively, and that's the saddest thing: that it's not even a business necessity.
For instance, Times of India's Bombay edition is entirely a Page 3 rag, yet Hindustan Times, which came in only a month ago, is already hitting almost as much circulation as Times, while following a much more sensible kind of journalism.
In my opinion, blogging is the future: with individuals across the world reporting directly on things they've seen and heard first-hand, reporting one-on-one to people everywhere. Cut out the systems, the politicking, the petty rivalries of newspaper and media groups and professionals, the self-conceited journalists and editors. I can report, you can too. Let's do it. I think sites like Blogcritics are doing a great service and very soon we'll see blogs being read for news and features, and even comment, much more than traditional news vendors in print or TV. And I'm all for that.
I'd like to follow up on something from a previous answer, the meeting of truth and fiction. When you start a project do you set out with an intent to make some point or other, or is the story the intent and points about life and society come out as it progresses? Rama's occasional comments on the caste system for example: the story is not about the caste system, but since they are Indian that's a fact of life, so they comment on it.
I write from within a story, that is, I don't plan externally or even know what I'm doing overall. I simply "see" a point of view, Rama's for instance, and am transported there to that moment in time and space, in that very room (or forest or wherever) and see and smell and hear etc. every detail. In fact, it's then a challenge to me how much I can describe and what to leave out, and to try to convey to the reader everything I'm "experiencing." In fact, to come back to the journalism connection, I consider writing fiction to be reportage too. Except that I'm reporting from "another world," or "another time," and so on.
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