Siddharth Dasgupta’s maiden novel “Letters From An Indian Summer”, published recently by Fingerprint, reflects the debutant’s passion and attachment to writing –– a labour of love all the way.
It is a love story woven around an Indian photographer and a French artist endowed with features which are generally not depicted in romantic novels. Describing his work, the author says, “It is not purely a love story. It is about two characters who have a pure, profound and deep abiding love for each other and are caught in a vortex of memories, regrets, ecstasies and secrets and includes their journeys across the world’s intriguing cities.” He says, “I was very conscious not to make it a sentimental, mushy and weepy story. In real life, real people are not overly sentimental. We love and feel deeply but are not melodramatic. I wanted to keep the novel very natural.”
In his 15 years of advertising career, Siddharth has been associated with copy writing and designing and has contributed articles on lifestyle and travel to different publications. Being associated with some or the other form of writing, he terms his debut novel as a natural progression. “There were lots of memories, experiences and stories from my life and of those who are closely attached to me. I wanted to bring them to the world,” he explains the reason behind churning out a novel. “A lot of it, almost 90 per cent, of the story is rooted in real life but all under the garb of fiction.”
The narrative has vivid description of many places, like Kathmandu, Paris, Istanbul, Banaras, and Pune where the story begins. Spaced throughout the novel, it creates a visual imagery for the readers and is based on author’s real life experience. “Travelling is a passion for me. The places described are the ones I have set foot on, explored and got lost in. All that experience and encounter has fed the writing,” says Delhi-based Siddharth. Being a multicultural romance, the two protagonists are nomads refusing to be tied down, their voyages forming a natural part of their character. “As they travel, their experience forms part of the novel,” he comments.
This led to asking him why multicultural romance? “A large part of the novel is rooted in real life. I wanted to keep that aspect intact and portray what happens in reality. From the literary angle, it is more engaging, enticing and intriguing than love between two people of the same country.”
The narrative is interspersed with a number of letters taking the readers back and forth. “This is a literary device to shift the perception of the reader, break his/her cocoon, engaging them more strongly and feel for the characters. It also avoids being a linear novel,” explains Siddharth.
The expressive and effortless prose of the story is bound to draw readers. “I wanted the writing to be quite intelligent, poetic and lyrical and not termed as a ‘run-of-the-mill’ effort. The intention was to get the readers involved in the lives of the characters in a language which should be cherished by them.”
Interestingly, Siddharth mentions that the readers should take their time and have patience with the narrative. “I wanted it (the story) to be a slow burner, not something which grabs you to be forgotten in two days time. The idea is to make it a part of the reader’s book shelf and travel kit.” Well, the effort in terms of the plot, characters, events, and language seems to have paid off.
Incidentally, the look, feel, font, spacing, social media branding and marketing for the book has been conceptualised and designed by the writer himself what he describes as a “pure passion project from start to finish”.
(The author’s facebook page is facebook.com/leavesfromabook)
