In Conversation with the 'better woman'

Source: Vijay Times, BVT LifeStyle - 4.
Copyright © 2005 Puja Goyal.

Anita Nair was working as the creative director of an advertising agency in Bangalore when she wrote her first book, Satyr of the Subway, and later The Better Man, and Ladies Coupe. BVT caught up with Anita Nair, and the author spoke her mind on books and authors…

We have a lot of authors coming out from Kerala…

I think it's because of its rich intellectual heritage. The place itself is so beautiful that you can't help but get inspired. Actually its not that the writers are coming out of Kerala, but it is from outside the state that they have started writing… they want to capture everything that is there in the state as well as how it relates to the outside…

While in our everyday life we talk a lot about changing traditions, but when we read books by our authors, we find that the social set- up hasn't really changed that much… are we kidding ourselves?

You're right! The society has not changed a bit. We have a superficial change, which we read about everyday, just like everywhere else, people in Kerala watch more television channels; and wear traditional clothes. Women in Kerala still wear nighties as usual attire, but deep within they are still the same. Kerala is still an isolated state and because of this isolation they are traditional and this has created a strong kind of cultural ethos, which is why a Malyalee would adapt very well outside the state, but when they get back to the state, they are still the same.

In writing we too obsessed with this family society relationship? Does this writing material give Indian authors some sort of an identity?

Because that is the foundation our society and it is supreme to us, the rest of the world finds it hard to conceive the sacrifices a family can demand of an individual because over here you are nobody without a family. A family in India gives you an identity. This apart, I think that Indian authors are getting more recognition now… the world has started to become aware of the fact that there is a body of authors and writing called Indian writing.

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