“Only a very specific kind of writer keeps their reader in mind while working. Such writers don't want to irk their readers; they don't want to challenge their readers; they want to produce exactly what their reader expects them to produce. I'm not like that.” WantMindKindChallengesProduceReader Author:Sarnath Banerjee
“I want to make sense of things, to understand the world, but my work is never really instructional. I have no wisdom to impart or give, so I think my dream readers would be people who just use the book as an excuse to get into their own cycle of thoughts. The book is just like a map. It's just a jotting-down of things that you can interpret in your own ways.” PeopleThinkingWorldWayWantGivingBookUseDreamWould BeReaderExcuseMake SenseCyclesMapsImpart Author:Sarnath Banerjee
“I think it's really good not to get published. It sounds crazy but it's true. People want to get published very soon, but the moment that happens, you lose a bit of your originality. Once you publish, you are always doing things made-to-order. You stop being a weaver and become a tailor. You are tailoring things to suit other people's fashion.” PeopleThinkingWantMadeMomentsHappensOrderBitsSoundLosesCrazyFashionSuitsOriginalityPublishTailorsWeaversTrue People Author:Sarnath Banerjee
“As a non-western artist, you have to ask yourself a question fairly early in your life: do I want to become a bridge maker, do I want my culture to be understood by the west? I have no intentions of doing such things. I'm fine being a little strange to a non-western audience. It doesn't bother me if my book doesn't change a generation of American readers.” IfsWantLittlesBookArtistCultureAsksAudienceGenerationsStrangeFineReaderUnderstoodIntentionWestWesternBridgesBotherMakers Author:Sarnath Banerjee
“It's not my intention to be understood. I will continue writing for a readership that is fundamentally local. Because if you want to produce universal writing, you run the risk of losing your local knowledge. Your views are so universalist that the street aspect disappears.” IfsWantWritingRunningViewsRiskStreetsProduceLosingUnderstoodAspectUniversalIntentionDisappearLocalsReadership Author:Sarnath Banerjee
“I find it very difficult to relate to India's new middle class. This very patriotic and neoliberal group that mixes religion and economics together. I find them very irksome. Very difficult to like. They are privileged, but they don't want to talk about their privilege. It's difficult to find poetry amongst these people. Some sort of hidden spirit of beauty.” PeopleWantTogetherSpiritDifficultClassGroupsMiddleEconomicsIndiaPrivilegeRelateMiddle ClassPatrioticPrivileged Author:Sarnath Banerjee
