Shanghvi’s Explosive Xpose!

Rubina A Khan / TNN / Aug 22, 2007, 00:00 IST

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Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi’s new book is on Mumbai’s public morality and private sexuality

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Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi (TOI Photo)‘I have no idea how readers will respond.’
Sex is at the core of author Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi’s sparkling and scandalous new novel which has kept him busy for the larger part of his late-twenties. Having made his grand debut in the literary world with his international bestseller The Last Song of Dusk in 2004, the enfant terrible of Indian literature explains why.
“The conflict between public morality and private sexuality obsesses the national consciousness. Right now, it’s crucial to wrestle both subjects away from politicians, who understand neither. Our writers must examine sex and morality fearlessly and compassionately,” says Shanghvi, who’s visibly excited about his new book, translation rights of which are scheduled in eight languages and will be out in Spring 2008.
“I’m also terrified,” he admits. “It’s a complete stylistic departure from my first book; so I have no idea how readers will respond.” The Juhu-based author, who’s as dandy with a dhokla as he’s with sushi, took four years to pen this parable of political corruption and high society shenanigans. Most interestingly, there’s buzz in the publishing industry that many high-profile Indians, cleverly and thinly disguised, have been ripped apart in the book.

“In my scrutiny of modern India, a number of political and cultural figures caught my eye, for good reasons and rotten,” he warns. “This is karma: do the crime, pay the fine.” So who in Mumbai should be afraid? “You’ll have to read and find out. This ain’t a pretty book; it takes on the important ugliness of life. I don’t treat anyone with kid gloves, and everyone is fair game here.”
After shuttling between Berkeley, US and India for a while, the author’s relocated to Mumbai to look after his parents. “My parents told me stories when I was a child and now, it’s time to repay debts of love that never can be repaid,” says Shanghvi, who turns 30 on Saturday. Any plans of settling down?
“My friends tell me settling down is the most unsettling experience; marriage aspires to unite two souls but my soul ain’t looking for so much unity,” he laughs.
Does he draw upon personal life experiences for his sexual wordplay in his works? “The writing is not superficially sexual but politically sexual. I study the public response to private desire. If I drew from my life to write about sex, I’d have to write a volume and live in fear of a fatwa instead. I resort to imagination,” says the writer.

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