Write recipe

Two writers, separated by a continent, and committed to very different concerns, are united by one factor: their undeniable presence in the literary world. Hari Kunzru, in the UK, and Rupa Bajwa, in India, might appear to have little in common but for the stir they have created in the publishing world. Both in India and abroad, Indian writers writing in English are making news as much for the appeal of their works as for the amounts they are paid. Although Kunzru’s macro take on issues like colonialism, globalisation and immigration finds nary a reflection in Bajwa’s almost Jane Austen-like micro impression of the world, both have hit the jackpot. Kunzru’s second novel, Transmission, is expected to equal, if not exceed, the popularity of his first, The Impressionist, while Bajwa’s debut The Sari Shop has got an enthusiastic reception. As Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth and Amitav Ghosh, among others, move over to make way for fresh talent, here’s to the Gen X of Indian English writers.