The Mind Creative - NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 | Page 23

The Mind Creative Nov 2013

TMC: The book and its characters are woven around Indian
classical music. Was the theme and content of the book driven by
the traditional structure and definitions of classical Indian ragas?
MANISHA: Yes. The ragas all have colours, times of day and other
specific properties attached to them. Hence, different ragas
became the guiding principles for different characters, which really
showed what their question in life became. In addition, I was very
interested in the idea of music 'colouring' the mind and
transforming lives. It's a concept spoken about with ragas and
really goes to the core of Kalu's (the central character) playing.
TMC: Your Dad is a
musician. In fact he
has been playing
the bamboo flute
since decades. Has
this something to
with the central
theme of the novel?

At the Gondwanalandings conference
MANISHA: Yes of course. Our house has always been filled with
music. In fact, the first words in Hindi and Guajarati that I learned
was in the form of music. I remember that I started with an Indian
raga called Malkauns. In addition, in our house, we also many
stories based on the flute; including a story that my Foi wrote for
children called Vasu the flute boy. Kalu, the central character in
my novel, is homage to this.
TMC: Tell me about the response of the readers. Has there been
more encouraging response from non-Indian readers?
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