A slow afternoon with P.Raja

Professor, publisher and prolific author who has contributed significantly to all genres of writing, With a writing career spanning more than two decades he is very much a conspicuous presence in the area of Indian Writing in English. He has published articles, short stories, poems, interviews, one act plays, and features in prominent national and international journals, newspapers and magazines. He has to his credit some 13 books written on a variety of topics and themes including For Your Ears Only (Pondicherry :Busy Bee Books 1977), The Blood and other stories (Delhi: BR Publishers, 1991), Many worlds of Manoj Das (Delhi : B.R.Publishers 1993), A Concise History of Pondicherry (Pondicherry, All India Books, 1987) from Zero To Infinity (Pondicherry : All India Books, 1987)

Professor Raja has been the recipient of Literary Award (Pondicherry University 1987, Pondicherry), International Eminent Poet Award (Madras, 1988), Michael Madhusudan Academy Award (Calcutta 1991) Gold Medal and citation (USA: American Biographical Institute, 1996)

At present he is busy with several assignments as well as his own writing. In this interview Dr.P.Raja talks candidly about his major preoccupations, concerns and future projects.

Rita Nath: Do you consider yourself as an Indian English writer?
Dr.P.Raja: I see myself as an Indian writer with an Indian sensibility. I would like to avoid any categorization of this kind. I write in English, my chosen language, and in Tamil, my mother tongue.

R.N: Would you not like to transcend national boundaries?
P.R: My consciousness is embedded in my native culture and although I continue to imbibe western influences I cannot turn into a so-called international writer. Moreover the local ethos adds a rich flavour to the universal themes of literatures. I can re-create the idiolect of amusing characters who live in my region with authenticity. I can attempt the same with foreign tourists who come here. However, if I want to present American characters breakfasting in New York I will have to rely solely on my imagination.

R.N: Do you feel completely at ease with the English language? Do you see English as an intellectual and cultural acquisition since it is not your mother tongue?
P.R: I write in English because I can express myself spontaneously in it. Secondly I wish to communicate with readers all over the world. When I write in Tamil I can’t even cross the borders of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil speaking people residing outside the state may not read my works.

R.N: When did you begin your career as a writer?
P.R: I was posted in Karaikal (Which is part of the Union Territory of Pondicherry) as a tutor in English at the age of twenty-three. Since Karaikal was an uninteresting place then I used to feel emotionally and intellectually suffocated. Writing helped me to cope with the isolation.

R.N: Marrriage must have brought about a positive change in your life.
P.R: Yes, it did. My wife still remains my most ardent admirer. My children not only brought me joy but also helped me to add new dimensions to my personality.

R.N: Did you start writing for children to entertain the little ones at home?
P.R: This is true. Since I had exhausted all the known stories I invented new ones to entertain them.

R.N: Do you have any distinct political ideology?
P.R: I believe neither in the parliamentary system which is a mockery of democracy nor in any communist philosophy.

R.N: Have you been influenced by Sri Aurobindo’s Philosophy?
P.R: Year ago the Central Government wanted to start a university in Pondicherry in the name of Sri Aurobindo. An army of local students protested against this because they felt a Bengali’s name would degrade the university. These students took out a procession shouting slogans against Sri Aurobindo and his Ashram. A pre-university student then, I had participated in this procession that covered almost all the main streets of Pondicherry.

During my UG days when I entered the realms of gold, I began reading excerpts from Sri Aurobindo writings. I moved on to his plays and poems. I admired them for they were on a par with Shakespeare’s. When I started writing and developed contact with Manoj Das, K.D.Sethna and M.P.Pandit, the three eminent writers of Pondicherry who were also Ashramites I felt that I was slowly moving closer to Sri Aurobindo. This happened because I was listening either to their satsang or reading their works related to Sri Aurobindo.

When I realized the genius of Sri Aurobindo I cursed myself for having raised my voice in protest against him.

R.N: It seems that some of your college professors have also influenced you?
P.R: They influenced me only at the intellectual level. Prof’s Venugopalan Nair and N Santhalingam allowed me direct access to their libraries. Manoj Das, M.P.Pandit and K.D.Sethna made a writer out of me. In fact, I can even say that they made a man out of me. My wife bears testimony to this phenomenon in my life.

R.N: You are a bilingual writer. In future do you see yourself opting for one language over the other.
P.R: I propose to be faithful to both. When I write it is the subject matter that determines the medium of expression.

R.N: You are a well-known writer in foreign countries as well. Can you tell us something about the reader response there?
P.R: Since the beginning of my writing career my works have been getting published abroad though I have not collected a booty. The editors of "Aristos" (Michigan, USA) and Spindrift (Toronto, Canada) brought out special issues covering my writings. In general the editors of American and Canadian journals have always shown interest in my work. I can even add that editors in USA, Great Britain, Canada and Japan are keen on publishing Indian writers if their stuff is worth the salt.

R.N: You have written "A Concise History of Pondicherry" but have you ever explored the unique heritage of the Tamil French community here?
P.R: I have written a few short stories and retold several folktales pertaining to the amalgam of Tamil and French cultures in Pondicherry. One such short story is "The Cook who saved the Natives". Since the Tamil-French community has a unique heritage and a promising future it can offer a goldmine of themes and ideas to discerning authors. I have plans to write novels/novellas on such themes.

Apart from this one, there are other communities with their strikingly different cultures in Pondicherry. The members of these communities have preferred to settle down here rather than anywhere else. Such loyalty to this coastal area is heart warming for a native like me. Even one-time tourists feel the magic of this place. On the other hand cross-cultural exchange has worn out many of the traditions and much of the old world charm of Pondicherry.

R.N: Can you tell us who your favourite authors are?
P.R: To all the tale tellers of yore I continue to remain a fan. Among the poets I admire Byron, Sri Aurobindo, Francois Villon, Rimbaud and Wislawa Szynborska (I have translated two hundred of her poems into Tamil). Among fiction writer it is Nikos Kazantzakis, Tom Wolfe, Shobha De, Kurt Vonnegut, Philip Roth and Manoj Das, I love the dramas of Shakespeare, Sri Aurobindo and Kalidasa.

R.N: Many critics have traced the influence of Manoj Das in your writing. Any comment?
P.R: I did my Ph.D. thesis on the short fiction of Manoj Das. I have translated several of his English stories into Tamil. Many aspects of his stories have inspired me.

R.N: Why did you set up a publishing firm?
P.R: My first ten books were published by various publishers. Every year I had to write half-a-dozen letters and make a dozen phone calls to get the 10% royalty due to me. What I bagged was only frustration.

Writers in India are the most exploited lot. When I thought that I should not be cheated anymore I started my publishing house. Though it has begun with the publication of my books it will help the local writers worth their salt to see their deserving manuscripts in print.

R.N: What are you working on at present?
P.R: I am working on Encyclopaedia Pondicherriana. It has been planned in five volumes – 1.Historical Pondicherry 2. Cultural Pondicherry 3 Religious Pondicherry 4 Literary Pondicherry 5 Political Pondicherry. This encyclopaedia will cover all details about the union territory and be a complete source of reference for anyone seeking information about Pondicherry. This report, not assigned by any government or institution, will come to a finish, if everything goes well, by 2003. This is a one-man show.

Rita Nath is a lecturer in English at Tagore Arts College, Pondicherry.

Pub on Arcot Road Chennai

High Tide

The long awaited pubs have arrived at Chennai and the entertainment-hungry denizens have been lapping it up in glee. Identifying the need, Hotel Aadithya on Arcot Road has launched a cosy 35-seater pub – High Tide – at the basement of its premises.

The lights flash all over and music pounds like high tides on rocks, as young twentysomethings troop in to unwind without a care in the world. Recreating the ambience of a ship, though in a limited way, with all attired in naval uniforms, High Tide offers dozens of stirring cocktails not found elsewhere. For those who don’t drink, nothing to worry for there are equally tasty mocktails.

On weekends you can spot a DJ swaying the moods of fashionable beer guzzlers. There’s no dance floor, but you could just tap your feet and tickle your palates. Try it and get hooked. Cosy two-seaters have been thoughtfully provided for private conversations.

Furniture Store Chennai

Royal Enterprises

Located on T.T.K. Road, close to Park Sheraton, the elegant 6,000 sq. ft. Royal Enterprises sports a delightful range of designer furniture, handpicked to lend an air of royalty to your home. Stacked with exotic pieces, it’s the Chinese leather and cotton sofas that catch the eye. Elegantly finished these unique sofas are all Fuxuan, a reputed Chinese brand.

The ground floor unveils beds, sofas and dining sets with unique mother of pearl designs on top and the sides. Made of rosewood these pieces are much sought after by connoisseurs. The special dining tables with a lovely bronze finish and royal diwans adorn many a customer’s home. Cots, rocking chairs and what you have in mind, they have it all.

Sleek dining tables, luxurious sofa sets, elegant wardrobes, living room showcases and contemporary dressing tables are all termite resistant. A stairway in the middle leads you to the mezannine where a range of artifacts, crockery, showpieces, chandeliers and creative lights welcome you. Added to this is the children’s toy section with imported cars, bikes, play pens, and plastic toys that are bound to delight even adults.

The classy wall hangers made of flowers and crystal items including crystal trees, said to be a sign of good luck, are for those with refined taste.

Royal Enterprises, 32, De Monte Colony, T.T.K. Road, (Near Park Sheraton), Ph. : 4986799

Some men succeed because they are destined to, but many because they are determined to.
This holds true for Chetan Maini, Managing Director, Reva Electric Car Company, who launched Reva, India’s first electric car last year at Bangalore. 250 cars later he came down to Chennai to display his electrifying Reva Classe, a luxury model.

The two-door hatchback fully automatic car, “answers the need for a small car with excellent mobility inside the city,” points out the young Chetan Maini, 35, and sporting a French beard. The lack of an engine, gear, clutch, radiator, spark plugs, fan belts and oil changes leads to 40% less maintenance, with minimum wear and tear.

Conceived in 1995 as an environment friendly cost-effective city car, the Reva was developed by the Maini Group in a joint venture with AEVT Inc. of Irvin Dale California. Though the first prototype was unveiled in 1995, nearly 100 engineers worked on the initial batch of 40 cars, drove a million kilometers before confidently handing the car to customers in 2001.

Environment friendly, the Reva’s running cost is just 40 paise/km. Lending 80 kms on a single charge (of 9 units) using a 220 volt, 15 amp power source, the Reva is surely an economy vehicle. Eight percent charge is done in 2.5 hours and 100% in 6 hours. The Rs.30,000 battery has a three year warranty.

Priced at 3.06 lakh for the luxury model, its an intelligent car whose two on board computers monitor the car’s performance facilitating computer controlled fault diagnostics.

Technically, the lack of an engine has resulted in a large crush zone in front. The steel frame with side impact beams offer good safety for occupants. The body is made of ABS, which unlike steel, does not result in a dent on impact. As if to prove a point, Chetan Maini, proceeds to whip out a hammer and deal a few heavy blows on the bonnet. And lo! The body bounces back to shape in an instant. "Would you like to try," he asks to convince any ounce of skepticism in us.

You could customize your Reva choosing from over 2000 trendy colours and designs to suit your taste.

A service centre with a 24-hour mobile Reva Service Car assures buyers of help on road. Those interested in a test drive can stop by at Patel Automobiles at Nandanam.

A Mechanical Engineer, Chetan, has over a decade experience in electric vehicles developing 6 electric, solar and hybrid electric vehicles. Recipient of the Thomas Alva Edison Award for Innovation, he says if he isn’t at the wheel, he’s scuba diving, mountain biking or aeromodelling.

Geoffrey’s Pub Chennai

As we walk into Geoffrey’s, the city’s first pub, we’re stumped by the number of ladies, downing their beers on a Friday evening, amidst small conversation. Plonking ourselves onto our seats, we wonder if we’re in Chennai. The walls are studded with artifacts, music fills the air and cocktails overflow. The trendy 3000 sq ft, 100-seater pub sports two pool tables for those who’d like to cue in between sips of fresh chilled beer.

The large space between tables makes it comfortable for pubbers to indulge in small conversation, so much so that the ladies in the far corner were oblivious to the rest. Offering the freshest of beers, small shots, cocktails, larger drinks and pitchers, Geoffrey’s lights up your moods with a live band on Wednesdays and Saturdays. As for side eats, palate-tickling dishes await you.By 10 pm the place is swarming with the young at heart. Can’t spot a single table without a lady or two. My host Rajesh, F & B Manager, makes a point, “Geoffrey’s is a platform to socialize.” How true!

A happening place, the MC interacts with beer guzzlers offering exciting gifts every now and then. Each time we step in we’ll find exciting promotions, we’re told just as a birthday was being celebrated and the B’ boy pampered with gifts. The happy occasion was shot and instant pictures delivered to the bemused guy.A trendsetter, Geoffrey’s, Chennai, has been rated among the Top 10 pubs by Cosmpolitan. Come celebrate your birthdays, anniversaries or just find an excuse to party. The place guarantees a memorable evening. But, remember, dress code applies.

Radha Park Inn.171, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai (Inner Ring Road),Arumbakkam, Ph : 4757788

Prakriti Rejuvenation Centre Chennai

Located in a peaceful residential area at AJ-15, 9th Main Road, 5th street, Anna Nagar (Ph:62590521/6215695), this centre has been quietly making a name for itself rejuvenating many stressed-up corporate executives, businessmen and travellers.

True to the Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal tradition, doctors and masseurs here evolve a perfect balance between body and mind through scientific traditional therapies from God’s own country - Kerala.

Unlike the pungent smell of oils associated with ayurvedic centres, Prakriti is refreshingly clean. Hi-flyers and those with a hectic lifestyle must try out the detoxifying and de-stressing packages that will put the body and mind back into top gear. Ayurvedic rejuvenation is the anti-ageing mantra for today’s man.

Arthritis, spondylosis, rheumatic and eye disorders, skeletal and muscular diseases besides obesity can be treated. The doctors and traditional masseurs use products from the world renowned Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal.

"I have had several Kerala type massages. But this tops it all", says S.Balasubramaniam, who has experienced their care. Susan Anto, who runs a boutique, Bonito, at Anna Nagar came here with a slipped disc and little hope of early recovery. "In five days I was able to walk. That was a great relief", she gushes. Today, she swears by Prakriti.

So if you want to revitalize your system, look and feel younger, stop by at Prakriti.

Chennai Watch