A big tale of small things

A book on a dwarf who's half Hindu and half Muslim is sure to raise eyebrows. After meeting the author however, we realise the book stands for so much more

A book on a dwarf who's half Hindu and half Muslim is sure to raise eyebrows. After meeting the author however, we realise the book stands for so much more

It's easy to brush off this author and his book, by being cynical and categorising his work as another book on a minority group. It's even easier to accredit the entire buzz it's garnered to its exotic theme.

An interview and a reading later however, perspectives will change.

Pics/ Satish Badiger

Chandrahas Choudhury was in town recently to promote his first book Arzee the Dwarf, at a book reading held at Odyssey in Indiranagar.

The book claims to be a dark comedy that peeps into the vanishing world of Mumbai's old cinemas and the lives associated with them. In a much larger perspective the story also narrates the uncertainties faced by the people left behind in a fast changing world.

We caught up with the author to find out more and here are a few excerpts from the interview.

MD: Why did you choose to make your protagonist a dwarf?
CC: I wanted to voice the opinion of a character, who like several other millions, lived in Mumbai and shared a life with many others in that city, but owing to the fact that he was smaller, I wanted to indulge myself into the experiences he might face everyday. I wanted to describe Mumbai as it would seem to a dwarf.

MD: So was Arzee completely a creation of your imagination or did you research into the lives of dwarfs before you wrote the book?
CC: I didn't research, because I didn't see the need for it. Arzee is a creation of my imagination, but like everything from one's imagination, he is influenced by real people.

MD: By narrating a story from the perspective of a dwarf, how did you benefit as an author?
CC: Since I was dealing with a voice not often heard, I found it much easier for the character to critique society.u00a0

MD: You were narrating the story of someone who not necessarily spoke English, so did you face the often challenging Vernacular-English divide?
CC: I have often written things that are translations from the Vernaculars and, thankfully, I have devised my own way of translating such pieces. It wasn't that hard.

MD: Would it be right to say you represented the new wave of Indian English authors?
CC: If new wave means that I believe in Indianising English to make a point, then I do not represent it. I am still quite Old School and do not look at the Old School as a hindrance to indigenous writing.u00a0

The book is a treat to a reader and while it is quite fast paced, it scores on being a quick read. It gives you a new perspective on the over-described city of Mumbai, but interestingly this perspective is one that you will find palpable. Not in the least bit glorifying of anything, the beauty of the book lies in its stark reality. The narrative is low on elaborate descriptions and that works to its benefit. In the simplest of words, it is a story that anyone can relate to. A story that reminds us of the joys in the simplest of things and how a balanced view, strength in one's beliefs, one's self and courage can sometimes be the perfect mixture of pre-requisites for a life worth living. In a more worldly perspective, the book is a tribute to the eccentricities and queer aesthetics of the fast disappearing cinema house.u00a0u00a0

Who is Chandrahas Choudhury?
While bloggers adore him as the author of The Middle Stage, he is also a regular reviewer for The Observer, The Sunday Telegraph, The San Francisco Chronicle and Mint. He calls himself a Mumbaikaar and is well known as one of the most reputed bloggers in the country. He is presently working on an Anthology of Short Fiction that will feature short fiction from all across the country.