Conversation with Namita Gokhale

Namita Gokhale is a distinguished Indian author, recognized for her significant contributions to literature and cultural dialogue. With a portfolio of twenty books, she was honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2021. Gokhale is also celebrated as the co-founder and co-director of the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival, alongside William Dalrymple.

Her literary journey began with her acclaimed debut novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion, published in 1984, a satirical exploration of urban relationships that cemented her place in contemporary Indian literature. Her recent works showcase her versatility and engagement with diverse themes. The Blind Matriarch, her latest novel, delves into the dynamics of the Indian joint family amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Other notable works include Betrayed by Hope, a play reflecting the life of poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt, and Jaipur Journals, a fictional account centered around the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Beyond fiction, Gokhale has made notable contributions to writing on mythology and religion, underlining her profound interest in India’s cultural and spiritual heritage. Her dedication to multilingual Indian literature and fostering cross-cultural literary exchanges has earned her widespread acclaim. In 2017, she was honored with the First Centenary National Award for Literature by the Asam Sahitya Sabha.

Gokhale’s work and vision continue to influence and inspire the literary world, enriching the global understanding of Indian narratives and traditions.

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Namita Gokhale : I was always writing something — there was no moment of realization — it was always part of my life.

2. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Namita Gokhale : I realized that books have a life of their own, and stories exist independently of us, waiting to be told and heard. The true writer only gives them voice .

3. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Namita Gokhale : There are many unfinished stories in my head. Of late I have been trying to work on short stories. Many of these have false starts and I give up on them. There was a long story I worked on last year which I was quite happy with — but I lost the notebook 🙁and that was that.

4. How do you select the names of your characters?

Namita Gokhale : It’s an intuitive process. I also try to keep them phonetically distinct.

5. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Namita Gokhale : Yes that’s perceptive of you to sense that. There are some puzzles or ambiguities and secret messages that very few readers get — but it’s important for me to have them.

6. Do you Google yourself?

Namita Gokhale : I never never Google myself and I never look at my website — it makes me uncomfortable to view my public interface.

7. How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?

Namita Gokhale : I see them as positive criticism or as a point of view the reviewer is entitled to.

8. In your childhood, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Namita Gokhale : Nothing really — I had no ambitions that I can remember .

9. What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

Namita Gokhale : I couldn’t answer that — ethical practice is difficult to define.

10. If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?

Namita Gokhale : Writing isn’t work . I have done so many different things all through my life, which I have enjoyed and excelled at — work that I am proud of. But writing isn’t work — it’s as natural and necessary as breathing, even if it’s not read of published. It’s my conversation with myself.