Gurcharan Das, écrivain indien

Dans le cadre de l'édition spéciale de Tehelka sur les habitudes littéraires en Inde pour l'année 2009.

Is there a book that changed or transformed your life? How - Why?
I shall mention two classics. I tend to read old books, perhaps because I have begun to feel my mortality. The first is the epic, Mahabharata, because it is about us. It is about how we deceive ourselves, how we are false to others, how we oppress fellow human beings, and how we are morally blind most of the time. Besides, I am currently reading Marcel Proust’s novel, In Search of Lost Time, in a new translation by the editor Christopher Prendergast and others (Allen Lane 2002). I am fascinated by the role of memory in the novel, beginning with the famous episode when the author eats a madeleine as a child, which opens up his entire past. Throughout there are many instances of memory being triggered by sights, sounds and smells. I read this French classic in college in Scott Moncrieff's translation, which was titled Remembrance of Things Past. I find this translation simpler, more satisfying.

In everything you have read, who would you count as the most inspirational character you have ever encountered and why?
In everything I have read, Pierre in Tolstoy’s War and Peace and Karna in the Mahabharata are the most inspirational characters I have ever encountered. They both wrestled with moral dilemmas that I have faced, indeed, all of us face. Their instincts are almost always deeply moral.

Is there any literary character you would have loved to be, or have unconsciously or consciously modelled yourself on? Who - Why - How?
I would have loved to be Shakespeare’s much admired Henry V and Arjuna in the Mahabharata. Both are winners, good Chief Executive Officer (CEO) material. The difference between them is that the much admired English king has no qualms about killing innocent women and children in war, whereas Arjuna does. Henry seems to me not very different from our modern leaders who do not give much thought to the deaths of civilians when they declare war. However, Arjuna does care.

Who is according to you the most romantic literary character you have ever read about? Why?
I think it’s Arjuna in the Mahabharata. He is universally attractive to women—this may be why every fifth Indian mother seems to name her son Arjun.

The funniest literary character?
For me the funniest literary character is definitely Shakespeare’s Falstaff and Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster.

What is the most disturbing book or scene you have ever read?
I have always found Chekov’s plays deeply disturbing. Uncle Vanya is particularly disturbing - it makes you face the sadness of the human condition.

A book or writer that changed your worldview? Or maybe that took you into a world you had never imagined?
I would say Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America changed my view both of democracy and of America. I understood why America became the first and greatest democracy, and I learned the dangers of the tyranny of the majority in every democracy.

Makarand Deshpande, acteur et écrivain indien

Dans le cadre de l'édition spéciale de Tehelka sur les habitudes littéraires en Inde pour l'année 2009.

Is there a book that changed or transformed your life? How – why?
I would say Krishna - the Man and His Philosophy. Through Krishna, Osho, the writer, makes the global part, in terms of religion and the way of life, relates with everything. When you are in search of Krishna, you wonder what he is, and you discover that he is the future. I think that’s what I understood. We must live in the moment and give in the moment because life is not optional.

Besides, I am a writer. I’ve not written a lot of plays but for me, this book is important to gather myself. When you keep writing you’re dealing with politics, mythology, culture and all contradictions. In Krishna – The Man and His Philosophy, all that come in one book. I just wrote a play called Joke, which is about a writer who chooses to believe in his childhood faith rather than in God. He is melting Mohat and Moksha together. It means that if some people critic you, it will lead to dialectic and this dialectic would finally help you make your choice. The book helps me because Joke is about faith and power, political and philosophical existence in the current political, economic and social situation of the world. If you read Krishna - the Man and His Philosophy, it provides you that kind of mind; I mean it is one of those books that only enrich you. I think it really has something significant to offer to readers. It is wonderful.

In everything you have read, who would you count as the most inspirational character you have ever encountered?
I think the writers are the most inspirational. For me, Govind Purushottam Deshpande, Marathi playwright, has written wonderful books, such as Dialectics of Defeat. I think he is a huge man.

Which book would you recommend to someone who reads only one book a year? Why?
I think everybody should read Little Prince, written by French Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, because this small book teaches how to speak with the heart. Then, I think people should also read books written by Kusumagraj, a huge Marathi writer and poet.

A book or a writer that changed your worldview? Or took you in a world you had never imagined before?
I have never been in such a world, but the Marathi litterature is full of symbols and metaphysics, with characters who can be terribly tragic and weak; it is very interesting. I should mention one play that I think radically changed my life: Chitra, written by Rabindranath Tagore, about the further wanderings of Arjuna. It is actually the story of a woman who looks like a man, since her mother and father educated her like a boy. She is an archer and beautiful warrior, but she is terribly upset because Arjuna does not even look at her. However, one day Arjuna sees her again and can’t help but finally falls in love with her. It is very poetic, and the language is impressive and amazing. I stopped writing when I read that book and started writing again after. It was definitely a turning point for me.

Piyush Mishra, acteur et réalisateur indien

Dans le cadre de l'édition spéciale de Tehelka sur les habitudes littéraires en Inde pour l'année 2009.

Is there a book that changed or transformed your life? How – why?
The Bhagavad Gita. I always have a copy of it with me. There is a lot of philosophy in it. It talks about human life in such a particular way that if you have some tough questions, you can read it and you will certainly find all the answers you need. It is a very wonderful book for that, made for everybody. When I read the book, I found all the answers to the questions my parents, teachers and friends could not answer, and particularly: what was the cause of my whole struggle?

In everything you have read, who would you count as the most inspirational character you have ever encountered?
From the Bhagavad Gita again, Vishnu. In my youth, I've been also very inspired by Fountainhead, and by Hoard Roark, its protagonist. For about twenty years of my life, I've tried to be like Hoard Roark, who is an extremely arrogant person. It is through him that I understood the ego. What I find inspiring about Hoard Roark is that his ego arose out of knowing himself, as opposed to others whose egos arise out of not knowing themselves. You can’t know more than me, this is my ego. This book and his main character completed me.

Which your favourite book-to-movie adaptation? Why?
The God Father, because it is the only case in which I have found the movie to be better than the novel. It is very difficult to adapt a novel and this is the best adaptation I have ever seen. I think it was shot to be much longer than it appears, and then edited excellently. Distribution of scenes and balancing of them is just perfectly right.

Ratna Patnak Shah, actrice indienne de Bollywood

Dans le cadre de l'édition spéciale de Tehelka sur les habitudes littéraires en Inde pour l'année 2009.

Is there a book that changed / transformed your life -- how / why?
Yes, there is. It is a play, which I read a long time ago. It was written by Georges Bernard Shaw in 1903 and is called Man and Superman. We performed a part of it and we called it Don Juan in Hell (Act 3 Scene 2). This is a piece of writing that definitely influenced and changed my life in many ways. First, as an actress, certainly because I finally figured out what I was doing wrong as such and I started to look for ways to change my problems and sort them out. It was a complete revolution. I can’t say it was a breakthrough because I don’t think I got it right. I think I was quite unable to improve my mistakes at that point. I started thinking about it in a much more serious manner. And I finally managed to correct some of them. It changed my life as an actress and as a human being because this play really talks about man in relationships, in the most interesting way that I came across.

At least one character that you find memorable...
I find interesting the English writer Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, and particularly the two characters Psmith and Jeeves. They always have the most perfectly and appropriate thing to say in every situation. They have solutions to every problem. Besides, they are funny and unbelievable.

In everything you have read, who would count as the most inspirational character you have ever encountered -- and why?
I can’t think of any character as such. But I can think of writers who have inspired me completely. John Berger (English writer) has. All are writers who opened my eyes. Among the fiction writers, I would probably say that Amitabh Ghosh (Indian Bengali author), John McPhee really made me think quite differently from what I was used to. They have changed my way of looking at the world, each of them in a completely different way.

Which book would you recommend to someone who reads only one book a year -- and why?
I recommend an author (whom I can't remember the name) who wrote a book about the Mahabharat, which is absolutely wonderful. Everyone should read it. It talks about Mahabharat in a very contemporary way. It talks about the characters and their dilemmas in a much more personal manner than the Mahabharat itself, with interpretations that make a lot of sense to me. It is a short version of the Mahabharat, in which the story becomes more important than the characters. And I would like to recommend any of Ismat Chughtai’s work. I think that particularly women would find the books extraordinarily accurate, even in our contemporary world, because she wrote in 1930s but her stories are completely accessible and relevant for today's world.

Who would you count as your funniest writer?
P G Wodehouse definitely.

You're Hired!

Interview of writer Nasha Fitter, for her new book You’re Hired! How to Get That Job and Keep It Too, by ADELINE BERTIN

How personal communication benefits a young professional trying to take control of his / her future?
I think the soft skills are the number one for young people to go ahead in India today. In fact there is a study, which was conducted a few years ago by McKenzie, that states that 75 percent to 90 percent of graduates are unsuitable to work in a multinational company because of their communication skills. It is very serious and very important. It is something young person should start developing early on, especially in India.

The lack of really suitable talents is holding our country back and it all comes down to soft skills. By soft skills I mean English grammar and language fluency. It is really pathetic that most of our graduates cannot put one sentence together in English properly, it is unprofessional. Secondly, by soft skills I mean interpersonal communication, how to present, to dress properly and to talk to a global audience as well as clients and customer. It is essential and my book is here today to offer an opportunity for any young person to join the global economy and learn the skills that he/she needs.

In today’s challenging job market, the dividing line between those who get the job and those who do not is very often communication skills. What is the best way forward? It is for companies, for people, for young people themselves, for universities to really take this seriously. There are a lot of things that they need to be worked upon. One problem we have with the educational system is that teachers do not speak English properly. Thus students repeat bad mistakes from their teachers and once home, they generally speak exclusively in local languages.

So for me, there has to be a focus on self help books like mine as well as on just learning and trying to improve oneself as much as possible.

Don’t you think a year abroad is not necessary for that?
Absolutely but that is a luxury that I do not think most people can afford. Within the constraints someone has, you have to find the way to improve yourself. In India, it is for instance possible to work with multinational companies to improve.

Besides, my book is very useful and is like buying four books in one. It is divided in four parts: English fluency and grammar, pronunciation and intonation, interpersonal skills and professional advices, such as how to write a CV and cover letter or how to go trough an interview. It is made for any young person who wants to join the global economy. Plus, the way I have written it is very comprehensive and customized. There is not a single example in the book that is not real because all come from my own experience as director of an Indian training company. I spent four years writing it. The aim is that someone can read it and immediately improve the way that he/she present himself/herself.

In a tough job market, how does one get a competitive advantage?
Right now the job market is very tough. The competitive advantage really comes from being unique and interesting and for that, one should be a great listener who asks really good questions. A big part of my book focuses on that, the interpersonal communication section completely focuses on how you can differentiate yourself by the questions you ask.

Moreover, young people should definitely do more activities, such as sport, theatre or music to have good “dinner conversations.” It helps you in an interview, with clients and it makes you an interesting person.

What is a “global citizen”, a term often used by many?
It is a great term. The world is getting smaller and people now constantly interact with people of other cultures, accents and personalities. The use of the term “global citizen” means we are all citizens of the world, we should all be comfortable anywhere and able to talk to anyone. For me, to have good listening and communication skills allow you to transcend the cultural barriers.

You know that India has the youngest population worldwide and that it is crucial for the growth of the country. What are your favorite tips for Master of Business Administration (MBA) aspirants and students?
I think a lot of MBA programs do not focus enough on communication skills. I work for Microsoft, I manage products, and 80 percent of what I do is talking, because I have to communicate with my team and clients. It is not technical skills but rather the ability to communicate and have good interpersonal relationships. MBA student should have these skills.

On top of that, I think Indian Universities should develop the communication classes because it radically differentiates the graduates when they come out of college. For example, take two graduates; both have great technical skills but one is a better communicator. Accordingly, he is going to get the job that pays four times as much and this is not a small difference; it is a real life changing difference. It is like taking the decision to better people’s lives by giving them communication skills or ruining their lives by not offering them this opportunity. That is why I definitively think that, in Universities, there has to be a strong emphasis on English and how to present oneself.

What do you think about the Indian MBA job market?
The Indian job market is just fine. I think India is doing pretty good compared to the rest of the world: 7 percent growth, it cannot be bad. You know half of the services sector has been hit but it is still a very strong sector, which contributes to 57 percent of GDP. For me the opportunities are not the problem, and the economy is not the issue; however, there is a lack of talent, which hampers our economic growth.

Tell us about your current job in Microsoft Corporation, Washington…
Currently I work in our emerging technology’s group focusing on emerging markets. I work with education technologies on multiple mice to accept one computer, which is really interesting and powerful in countries like India. Microsoft is a great place to work, with great learning opportunities. I am happy to have this job.

André J Fanthome, photographer

Can you tell me a little about the work of a young photographer you saw recently, or are looking forward to?

I have been watching Chandan Gomes work from the time that he was a second year student at St. Stephen’s college, Delhi. Chandan’s work has been divided between documentary, fine art and experimental photography. He once brought me a photograph of some sound frequency that was mapped by a Cathode Ray Oscilloscope that is invisible to the naked eye! He’s been doing a lot of documentary work for NGO’s to fund his photography too.

What do you know about him and his work? Which photograph of his do you particularly like?
Chandan is un-conventional in his photography and is yet to define his style which has been constantly evolving in the last few years. A photograph he took when he was still in college of the horizon through the wheel of a cycle has been one of my favorites.

How would you qualify his style?
Chandan has still to develop a style, he’s constantly experiment with different styles and will need a few more years for his photography to mature and forge a style of his own.

Which particular details usually hold your attention in his work?
The boldness in his work has been something that I have admired, when most of us begin shooting in-keeping with the usual rules that one associates with photography, ever since I have seen his work I have noticed that he has had the courage to break away from the set norms to create striking images always keen to experiment.

K Satchidanandan, Writer

A book that means a lot to you?
There are many books that mean a lot to me but I would name the Holy Bible – especially stories from the Old Testament and Genesis because they throw up several very interesting and accurate human aspects. I also like the moving stories from Exodus. The Holy Bible is a book that means a lot to me also because it talks about the life of Christ, his message and his sacrifice. I deeply respect it for all the human emotions and aspects it offers.

Your favourite genre?
Poetry. You know, I wanted to be a poet. I read a lot of fiction, too, but poetry is the genre I prefer, because it is the best way for me to express emotions.

Your favorite character?
My favourite character is Ivan Karamazov from Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov. I particularly appreciate the kinds of relations he makes with people.

How many books do you own?
In my library, I would say 8,000.

An underrated book?
Moby Dick by Herman Melville, because it’s really good at drawing human friendships and situations.

An overrated book?
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.

The book you bought last?
The Way to Paradise by Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa. I also always enjoy science fiction!

Last book read?
The last book I read was the same, The Way to Paradise.

A book you wish you’d written?
Canto General by Chilean poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda, because it’s an extremely poetic history of Latin America.

Rahul Mahajan, Reality TV Star and Politician

What’s your earliest memory?
When I was little, my family and I lived in a town where there were a lot of rich families. But my mother still came to pick me up after school, something other rich mothers would never have thought to do. That’s my earliest memory.

What was your relationship with your parents, and especially with your father?
My father and I had a very close relationship. You know, he used to say that when a boy reaches 21 or 22 years of age, he becomes an adult. At that age, the relationship is no more about a father and his son but that of friends.

One month after your father’s death, you were hospitalised for a cocaine overdose. How do you feel about that now?
I can’t discuss this. I can’t explain all these medical things, I am not a specialist. However, I think that life is made of good and bad moments. This was a bad one. But now, I am in a good one. I did Bigg Boss, I am going to participate in the next TV show Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. Maybe I’ll find love in this show, who knows?

What do you think of love and marriage?
I think love and marriage are two different things. Love is not the only reason to get married. Marriage is much bigger than ‘love’. I definitely believe in marriage.

Do you think you’ll find your soulmate on TV?
I definitely think I could find a girl in this show. There will be 16 girls, selected out of a 100 or so, from different sets of society, so it can’t be that bad for me! You know, I’ve been married once already – not an arranged marriage but with a girl I knew for years and chose myself. This time, I’ll be in a select social circus and I think it is a good way to find someone who matches me. I am really excited about it. Furthermore, I want to make a career in the media. So, this will help my career too! Of course, there are other means to meet girls, but TV is at the centre of family lives now. I like the idea of being filmed 24/7 because it gives me the opportunity to show everyone who I really am.

And what kind of woman are you looking for?
First, I am looking for a genuine woman. Second, I think a woman looks for a good husband – a wise and kind person. I also think parents should give all they can to their children, and that’s also important in a marriage.