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Published on Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 12:14

No matter what garb he dons, or the faith to which he subscribes, Zia believes that he is the chosen one, destined to save the world.

Gifted mathematician, stock market whiz-kid, master guerrilla strategist, defender of the faith, Zia Khan is a man willing to die for his beliefs, and to destroy anyone who comes in his way. Zia Khan is a god’s little soldier: a terrorist.

Zia’s fate is linked with that of his brother, Amanat, who chooses the middle path. Their lives diverge and their beliefs clash, but both are confronted in their own ways with the dilemmas of faith and betrayal, god and morality.

Crafted with a deft, daring and certain hand, God’s Little Soldier is a masterpiece of storytelling. As a literary work, the novel effortlessly combines lyricism and learning, imagination and authenticity; as a modern-day allegory it highlights the dangers of religious extremism of all varieties, and is a profound and unflinching enquiry into the most pressing issues of our times.

Kiran Nagarkar, novelist, playwright, film and drama critic and screenplay writer is the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award (2001) for his novel, Cuckold. His first novel, Saat Sakkam Trechalis (later published in English as Seven Sixes Are Forty Three) is considered one of the two landmarks in Marathi literature. In 1978, he wrote the play, Bedtime Story. Based partly on the Mahabharata, its

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On May 17, 2006, Oxford Bookstore Kolkata and HarperCollins Publishers India celebrated the publication of God’s Little Soldier by Kiran Nagarkar at a large gathering of the city’s literati, film fraternity, academics and others, hosted at the Park Street heritage bookstore. Samik Bandyopadhyay, eminent literary and art critic, introduced the author and the book, conceptualizing the body of Nagarkar’s work. Anupam Kher, despite his frank admission of non-proficiency in English, read impeccably, several passages from Khuda ka Chota Massiah (as he translated the title) each passage being introduced by the author.

Mr. P.M. Sukumar, CEO Harper Collins Publishers India, present on the occasion, said “It’s one of the biggest books ever published by us and the theme, terrorism, is of relevance to every section of society and geographical region worldwide. I personally found it fascinating and unputdownable, and it is our privilege and pride to be associated with it."

In a free-flowing conversation with Satarupa Ray, the acclaimed author, Kiran Nagarkar discussed his new book, his inspiration, his love for acting and of course his visit to the city of joy after nine years. As always, his lively repartee made the literary talk replete with witticisms and laughter.

On God’s Little Soldier
God’s Little Soldier is a parable of our modern times, a parable without a message. The book plays with realism, fantasy and various genres at different stages in the narrative. At times, the book even reads like a thriller.

On the two brothers, Zia and Amanat in God’s Little Soldier
Zia is an easy idealist who wants to change the world. He wants the world should be as to his liking and to achieve this he will put his money where is mouth is. On the contrary, Amanat is liberated by his doubts. Interestingly, the disputes the two brothers have –when they want to hate each other – reveals an undertone of bonding between them.

On violence today
The problems today are we see random acts of violence. What do we do? Earlier, violence was clearly identified - one group was trying to erase another. In the 21st century, anybody who is not ‘us’ is ‘them’. The enemy is not defined. When all modes of communication end, the last resort is violence. This is disastrous!

On religion and faith
I am a complete non-believer. Faith is partly a search for purity and partly a search for guidance.

On wisdom
That you are not dogmatic. Zia is in many of us. Zia is intolerant. I am intolerant of intolerance.

On his Sahitya Akademi award-winning novel, Cuckold, the story of Maharaj Kumar - his inner and outer conflicts, being autobiographical
The more I move away from the autobiographical mode, the more it reveals itself.

On the art of his storytelling and the inspiration behind it
I am a storyteller who belongs to the tradition of Mahabharata. Homer is my role model. The stories said 3000 years ago are still so enlightening. Their stories tell far more than our own stories do nowadays.

On his next writing project
I haven’t started writing yet. I would like to do a lot of things provided I can get over my inexhaustible sloth (laughs)

On writing in his mother tongue, Marathi
I am ashamed to say that my going to Marathi was a big event. I studied Marathi for four years only in school. It was purely by chance that I went back to Marathi. I am an instinctive writer when I write in Marathi.

On approval of the West for our writing
Most of our writing is terrible. We have no self-confidence, no self-esteem. Not all that the west says or writes is exceptionally good but there are good writers. In India, some of the best writers are in regional language…only if we understood and appreciated this better!

On Indian literary scene today
We are still very young in literature. We are just beginning… I am glad I belong to these times. I don’t want to be in a golden age.

On English theatre in India
Most of our English theatre is bad. Marathi theatre is lively. But I must say they are some young people in the country who are writing their plays well.

On playing Brother Bono in film, Split Wide Open (1999) directed by Dev Benegal
Oh, I would love to act in more films…!

On Kolkata now
I have come to the city after exactly nine years. On my last visit for my book launch, there were only 14-15 people in the audience and more than half were from Oxford Bookstore! Your city is far better than Bombay. It’s cleaner and better behaved. It hurts me to say that Bombay is in pits now.