About Kiran Nagarkar

About Kiran Nagarkar

Kiran Nagarkar is one of the most significant writers of postcolonial India. He is an anomaly among Indian writers in that he has written acclaimed novels in more than one language. His first novel, Saat Sakkam Trechalis (translated into English as Seven Sixes are Forty Three,) was a critical sensation when it was published in 1974, quickly becoming recognized as one of the most important novels written in Marathi. His next novel, Ravan and Eddie, begun in Marathi but completed in English, was not published till 1994. His third novel, Cuckold (1997) won the Sahitya Akademi award. It has been translated into a number of languages and has become one of the most beloved contemporary Indian novels, both in India and in Europe. He has recently completed his latest novel, God's Little Soldier. All his novels since Ravan and Eddie have been written in English.

This conversation with Arnab Chakladar was conducted almost entirely in person on August 21, 2005 at Kiran Nagarkar's residence in Mumbai. The conversation was recorded and transcribed; while the transcript has been cosmetically edited to make it a more "readerly" text this is essentially presented as it happened, a free-flowing conversation rather than a structured interview. As such, there are moments in the transcript that refer to conversation that was not recorded.

Read the conversation here.

Discuss it here.

(Photograph of Kiran Nagarkar on the front page by Arnab Chakladar)


home about contact policies submissions feature archives audio visual writing reviews forums art film & television food literature music society & culture elsewhere desilit parabaas sasialit sawnet upper stall	About Kiran Nagarkar Kiran Nagarkar is one of the most significant writers of postcolonial India. He is an anomaly among Indian writers in that he has written acclaimed novels in more than one language. His first novel, Saat Sakkam Trechalis (translated into English as Seven Sixes are Forty Three,) was a critical sensation when it was published in 1974, quickly becoming recognized as one of the most important novels written in Marathi. His next novel, Ravan and Eddie, begun in Marathi but completed in English, was not published till 1994. His third novel, Cuckold (1997) won the Sahitya Akademi award. It has been translated into a number of languages and has become one of the most beloved contemporary Indian novels, both in India and in Europe. He has recently completed his latest novel, God's Little Soldier. All his novels since Ravan and Eddie have been written in English. This conversation with Arnab Chakladar was conducted almost entirely in person on August 21, 2005 at Kiran Nagarkar's residence in Mumbai. The conversation was recorded and transcribed; while the transcript has been cosmetically edited to make it a more "readerly" text this is essentially presented as it happened, a free-flowing conversation rather than a structured interview. As such, there are moments in the transcript that refer to conversation that was not recorded. Read the conversation here. Discuss it here. (Photograph of Kiran Nagarkar on the front page by Arnab Chakladar)