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As a full-time
freelancer now, what do you think about this career?
Freelancing
affords one the freedom to work at one’s own pace and one is
also at liberty to write on the subjects of one’s preference.
But as a career it hasn’t come of age in India. Unlike in the
West, where freelancing is a recognised profession and a writer
can sustain himself through his earnings as a writer, it is
different for writers here. With the exception of a handful of
well-known columnist not many can boast of making a living
through it.
Why is there such
a scarcity of humorous columnists in several of our national
dailies?
There is
apparently an excessive dose of politics in almost all the
papers. And the reader has no option but to wade his way through
these baffling political speculations that are churned out.
Ironically such writings serve little purpose as most of the
readers have negligible say on such matters. I think the Press
needs to come out of this mindset and provide ample space to
unsensational and humorous writings.
Who have been your
favourite columnists?
Khushwant Singh
and the late Busybee have impressed me the most with their range
and vivid styles of writing.
In the last few
years a spate of Indian fiction writers have emerged on the
literary scene. What do you think of this trend?
It’s really a
welcome sign both for the readers and writers of this genre.
Earlier the writers writing in English had to look for
publishers in England but now they have an opportunity to get
their novels and short stories published here itself. It won’t
be an exaggeration to say that Indian writing in English has
matured considerably.
Do you think this
has happened due to an increase in the number of readers of
English fiction?
Obviously they are
more such readers than before, but if the Indian public become
conscious of the benedictions of good reading and prioritise
book buying, the number of readers can grow beyond anyone’s
wildest imagination. In this regard I think our schools can play
a great role by introducing children to the pleasures and
profits of reading instead of making them cram facts.
You are also a
well-known page-3 figure. How do you see yourself as a
socialite?
I doubt if I am a
prominent page-3 personality, Although I occasionally enjoy
socialising for the simple reason that different people provide
me with a lot of ideas to write. And being a freelancer now, it
won’t do me any good to sit in isolation.
You spent a
considerable part of your life in Mumbai. After your retirement
from the UN, what prompted you to shift Delhi?
There is little
intellectual life left in Mumbai now. Except Bollywood and its
status of being the commercial capital of the country, Mumbai
has little to offer in terms of thought-provoking activities.
Due to its overcharged political atmosphere it has become rather
parochial lately.
Delhi, on the
other hand, is quite a stimulating and happening place. Many
national dailies have their head offices here, almost all the
news channels operate from this place and most of the leading
publishing and advertising houses are based here. Besides a lot
of events pertaining to art literature and culture are organised
here throughout the year. All these factors and a real liking
for the city made me settle in Delhi.
Besides writing
the occasional column do you plan to dabble in fiction as well?
I am, in fact,
working on a novel right now. Let’s see if I can make
something out of it.
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BHAICHAND
Patel is quite a familiar name to the readers of offbeat columns.
His lively and lucid style of writing clearly sets him apart and it
is no wonder that Har Anand Publications is coming out with a
collection of some of his best columns written over a span of almost
four decades.
