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Author Interview - Vinay Capila

Vinay Capila was born in 1943, and spent his childhood in Delhi, graduating from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, in English Honours in 1964. The euphoria and idealism of an independent India has been part of his embedded psyche. He has worked in various jobs in marketing and administration and as Trade Counsellor in the Royal Danish Embassy, New Delhi. Being an author of many published books, and having been nominated for “2017 Best Story Award” by The NY Literary Magazine, his latest book is “Riding a Tiger”, a fictional account of right wing extremism, which is very relevant to the world’s political scenario in present times. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, he discusses about his writing journey, his books, how his writings reflect the contemporary reality of our times, and also talks about his favourite books.

Please tell us more about Vinay Capila as a person.
I was born in 1943, and spent my entire childhood in Delhi. I graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, in English Honours in 1964, then worked in various jobs in marketing and administration in the public and private sectors and finally as Trade Counsellor in the Royal Danish Embassy, New Delhi, where I was awarded the Queen’s medal for meritorious service in 2005. I retired from service in 2010.

Having worked in various marketing and administrative jobs, which included being Trade Counsellor in the Royal Danish Embassy, you have forayed into writing and authored many books. Can you tell us more about your writing journey?
During college days, and throughout my working life, I was writing poems and short stories in my spare time. On retiring I started compiling all my writings and devoting more time to creative writing. The result was the publishing of two books in 2012: a collection of short stories, and a collection of poems. In 2014, I published “Echoes from the Valley”, a novel based on the tragic exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley. Another collection of short stories was published in 2015, followed by two short books through Kindle/Amazon in 2017. Throughout 2017 I worked on the background research and writing of the present novel, “Riding a Tiger”, which was finally published in early 2018.

Can you give a brief overview of your book “Riding a Tiger”?
The book follows the journey of two boys, living in two different towns, from infancy to middle age. Through their individual circumstances they are attracted to join an extreme rightist party. In their youth they come together and their ambitions lead them into the political sphere. The power they experience results in arrogance and intolerance to opposition. There is a lot of similarity between what I have narrated in the book and what is happening today. I have tried to state that it is not all one-sided – that there is a cause and effect factor, both socially and politically.

The book, as you have described, is overtly based on politics. What type of research went into writing the book? Is it something of a satire on India’s current political system?
The beginning was an accidental reading of a book by a young journalist who had conducted a sting operation on a State political party responsible for communal riots and genocide. Intrigued by the contents, I read another book authored by a senior ex-police officer in a responsible position during that period. That book corroborated what the journalist had written. After this I started reading a few books providing the history and ideology of the right wing party and their affiliated offshoots. So what I have put in my fictional story is based on a lot of research, and reveals in detail the modus operandi of the Party for attaining and retaining power. The story is not a satire but a thinly disguised revelation of the true hidden picture.

How has the response of readers been to your latest book?
I have had a fairly good response from readers and some very good reviews. A large number of people are concerned about the direction in which our country is being led and people have appreciated that I made the effort of writing about it – even though in the form of fiction. I have found that a lot of educated and socially conscious people are as afraid of developments as I am. Unfortunately, political support depends substantially on those swayed by dynamic oratory bloated with attractive false promises.

“Echoes from the valley”, another book of yours, is based out of the Kashmir valley and discusses many issues like the Kashmiri Pandit Exodus and the state of the current political dispensation. Can you tell us more about this book?
As mentioned in its preface, the idea for the book came from my discussion with my son about the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley and how there were only sporadic reports about the tragic event. My mother was born and brought up in Kashmir and I was very familiar with the valley – from childhood and my first job posting was there. So I decided to write about the issue, but couched in a fiction story.
In my novel I talk about three friends: a Muslim boy, a Kashmiri Pandit and a Punjabi boy – all close friends in school. I talk about how, over the years, the atmosphere changes due to Pakistan sponsored terrorism and gradual indoctrination of the local population. However, the camaraderie between the three is not affected and till the end they go all out to support each other through their travails. Some of the scenes I have portrayed in my novel are based on actual events narrated to me during my visit to Kashmir when I started writing the novel. And, of course, I have experienced the changes taking place over a lifetime of visits over 65 years. We still have our maternal family house in Srinagar and I have a strong affiliation to the place. I have ended the novel on an optimistic note. But that was in 2014. Today? No one knows.

What your favourite books? Can you share with our readers about the genres that you like and your favourite authors?
I am an avid reader, reading 2-3 books on an average ever month. My canvass covers serious books like “Why I am a Hindu” by Shashi Tharoor (a brilliant, learned treatise) to thrillers by Robert Ludlum, Jeffrey Archer, Dan Brown, John Grisham, etc. Currently I am reading a number of books by P.G. Woodhouse – which I had somehow missed in my college days. For wit and humour I don’t think he can be beaten. It is difficult for me to say who my favourite authors are since I enjoy reading so many.

What are your other interests apart from writing?
I have been very much involved in theatre – right from 1965 till a couple of years back. I have participated in all aspects of theatre – both on stage and off stage. I won the Chaman Lal Memorial Society award for outstanding contribution to stage craft in 2003. I was drama critic for The Statesman newspaper for three years in between.

Are there any new literary projects that you’re currently working on?
I am concentrating on trying to promote “Riding a Tiger” at present. But there are a couple of ideas roosting on my computer for hatching, when I get free of my current focus.

There are many new writers there who are aspiring to get their work published. What would you say to them?
My advice to aspiring writers would be to write what comes from your heart. Do not force the issue; do not write with the idea of becoming a famous author. The publishing world is tough. If you have written what comes from the heart then it does not matter who publishes it and who does not. Do you know that even a famous writer like Mark Twain had to rely on self-publishing to begin with? How to promote your writing is as difficult a task as writing itself.

Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going?
Write to express your innermost feelings and thoughts. Fame is an elusive commodity. It could come if your words come from your heart.