What if book characters seem too real?

Columnist Namrata Zakaria’s introduction to author Manu Joseph’s new

novel

‘

Miss Laila

’ turned out to be an enjoyable roast.

It was just as well that Joseph began the evening with a disclaimer to say that if the characters of his novel bore resemblance to reality “it should make real life characters introspect”.

Namrata probed his rationale behind bestowing a character named

Damodardas

with a 56-inch chest, naming his rural activist-journalist after a well-known writer, and his assessment of farmers’ suicides as a mental health issue.

The writer has devised a new method of psephology. “I look at (the predictions of) 20 Indian liberals and determine exactly the opposite. So far I have been correct. If I fail tomorrow (December 18), I may devise another system.” Joseph admitted an affinity for Arvind Kejriwal, dismissed Kanhaiya Kumar as a “college boyfriend, why would he want to be a husband which is a difficult job and whom nobody loves,” and said Hardik Patel reminded him of Tamil politicians.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.