Vikram Seth - a suitable boy talks to Sam Miller

Delhi is a happening place. Even if I am very choosy in finalizing my appointments, I remain too busy to be creative. But this was something I could not avoid. That’s how seeing Vikram Seth lives in conversation with Sam Miller on 03^rd Feb 2011, I could not avoid even being back to back with my engagements and I had to rush from a seminar on “Deepening Democracy” organized by one of my old friend Dr D K Giri at Constitution club, New Delhi. These two programs were contradictory but I decided to do it this time.

I was in time for the program to be with famous Indian author Vikram Seth.

However, I could not get time to sit and write about it, it got delayed and only today i.e. on 15^th February 2011, on my marriage anniversary day I am trying to finalize it.

Writers can be counted on fingers in this country. Vikram Seth is one of the most famous among others, writer of “Suitable Boy”, working on “Suitable Girl”. I was pleased to attend this live conversation and that too along with my only wife Dr Vidya and daughter Janet.

I enjoyed every bit of this intellectual amalgamation. Except, the ignorance of youth of this country, conversation was live, realistic, frank and visionary. Sam was drinking wine and the same was being done by Vikram in front of the class audience at Indo-French cultural Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi. It was not a dream but reality.

Class creates its own space in a different world where the perceptions of normal humans in society do not touch. Unfortunately this space is experienced by few at few of the time at few of the places in this country.

Few of the important confessions from the mouth of Vikram Seth -

My parents moved to England when I was just a kid. I could not speak regional language. I faced indifferent race.

First language I learned to write is English.

I read books when young, all English books - splendor series book TINTIN, William etc.

Grandmother was a lover of poetry. She will weep at times to put across her points.

Puskin hexamine tetramin – life revolved around them away from normal Indian traditions or cultures.

Could not afford air fare to come back home.

Warmth why inclined to write something or not

I have written play too

Bonfire remains a part of life; I am luck because nobody destroyed my love letters. I dared to do things differently.

It’s an embarrassment of writing anything when parents are alive.

Spent 11 years in Stanford.

Still trying to understand my father. (I think he must read my book on unlearning to understand generations)

Reading Naipaul, in high, cud figure China Tiananmen square

You remembered my sister name, today she is sitting in front of me with my parents. She is also a poetess in her capacity.

Every poet name comes in the last but I do not do the same.

Clever device don’t know what to ask.

My book gives a political outlook.

What upset me? A talk on Metro extension to Greater Noida.

Challenge to do different

Fear of boredom whichever way I am grateful

“Suitable girl” will be on present

We all had terrible time in Jaipur Literary festival because of contradictory aspects of life.

Not interested to write challenges.

It’s great powerful experience to know that my grandfather was a child.

We are all accident of history.

Book is dedicated to Nani

When I was hanging I was working hard  (I face similar problems most of the time.)

Revision is important

Talk was real and to the ground level. Not much hypocrisy. Sam Miller asked few relevant and real deep questions which touches the part of excellence. I was satisfied and happy that his life was full of those UNLEARNING lessons I have talked in my book “Unlearn Before U Learn” written I 2005 and published in 2007. I felt myself visionary.

In this world of trivializm in Delhi, it was soothing to be in a company with excellence.

Talk ended with drinks (wine & juices) and mouth watering snacks, chicken tikka etc. Great to dish them with some suffy crowd.

Thanks France…. http://delhi.afindia.org thanks Writers, etc!!

Getting lessons from Nobel Laureate

I got my first lesson on a new medical topic known ribosome by none other than two Nobel Laureates. I had never studied medical sciences in my school or college days. It’s all because of wrong or defective education policy of earlier days. This results in my daughter knowing more than I know about ribosome or cells or DNA.


DNA started attracting my attention when I read a book titled “Genome” written by Matt Ridley. I read this book to find the depth and the path of human evolution. Today when I was tutored by two Nobel laureates, my concept about these enhanced. The first one I heard Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan known as Venki when he delivered his lecture in FICCI auditorium on 20 Dec 2010.

http://kamekish.sulekha.com/blog/post/2010/12/a-winter-morning-with-nobel-laureate.htm

The second one took place on the last day of Jan 2011, when I happened to listen to another Nobel Laureate Dr Ada Yonath from Israel at AIIMS auditorium.

My daughter was curious to listen to a Nobel Laureate. Her query was simple. Can we all go and listen to a Nobel Laureate free of cost? I explained her that this is a public lecture and people of 21st century have this choice (If you are in metro and conscious). Even Rahul Gandhi may not have decided to listen to a Nobel Laureate but you can do that. It’s all a matter of choice.

As usual we were seated in the front row of AIIMS auditorium 15 minutes in advance. I was just cooling down when I saw an old lady of the age of around 80+ came on dais – confused, searching and curious with a serious smile on her face. I told my daughter that my guess is that she may be Nobel Laureate because it resembled the way Ramakrishnan did when he came on dais in FIICI auditorium. Great people have some similarity.

Slowly people started coming on dais and within few minutes all high flying professors and AIIMS Director got activated. The program started dot on time.

Prof TP Singh gave a good introduction of Dr Ada. How he was in contact with her for last thirty years. How she has been working on finding structure of ribosome for last thirty years since 1976? How she was in touch with AIIMS for various help and collection of data? He spoke about the spirit and efforts for persistence to carry on such long projects.

Ada came and started talking about Ribosome. There was no introduction, no formalities nothing. Straight ribosome.

As she also liked to confirm, Ada Yonath started working on ribosome in 1976, with the sole aim to determine structure of ribosome. Finally the efforts of more than 20 years brought color, she could see the structure of ribosome in 2001, 25 years!!

There are 25000 proteins, 100K Cells, 20 types of amino acid in the body.


Ribosome is like a factory taking mRNA and producing protein.


The medical application was a bonus.


"You don't have to be the biggest to beat the biggest." – Henry Ross Perot


The story of David and Goliath is one of the biblical stories I love so much since the days of my childhood. For those of you who may not be familiar with the story, it is simply a story of how a little shepherd boy defeated a famous fully armed giant warrior. An inspiring story of how a boy rose from nothingness to become one of the greatest king and warrior. Though I am not a religious fanatic, I often use this story as a source of inspiration whenever I am faced with a giant obstacle.


“It’s alright to be Goliath but always act like David.” – Philip Knight

It’s all her GODFATHER during her journey towards structure.

She was happy to show the greetings card given by her granddaughter where she was declared best Grandma.

At the end, she confirmed one of my beliefs, sugar is poisonous.

And at the end too she referred to a quote like a GODFATHER which I have mentioned in my unlearning book.

“The secret of life is to have a task, something you devote your entire life to, something you bring everything to, every minute of the day for the rest of your life. And the most important thing is, it must be something you cannot possibly do. - Henry Moore.”

She answered few of the questions before she closed her talk.

I was happy to hand her over my book on unlearning which she delightfully took and promised me to revert back with her comments.

My daughter photographed this event. She was happy to meet another 80+ old lady scientist doing things herself unlike her Dadi.