<p>Akhil Sharma is the author of the novel Family Life, for which he won the Folio Prize in 2015. The novel, about a medical tragedy in the life of an Indian family that has migrated to the US, also made it to the shortlist of the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2016.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Delhi-born author is a Harvard Law School graduate, who resides in the United States. He teaches creative writing at Rutgers University in Newark. The short-story collection titled Mother and Son, and the novel An Obedient Father (recipient of several awards), are among his notable works. <br /><br />Akhil Sharma spoke about his life in general, and his works, to Sunday Herald recently. Here are some excerpts from the interview:<br /><br />‘Family Life’ took you 13 years to write. You’ve said you “wasted” nine years when it didn’t go well. What problems did you face?<br />I had problems with figuring out how to manage the plot. This was a technical challenge and took a long time to resolve. ‘Family Life’ addresses long-term illness and despair.<br /><br /> Do you think the healthcare sector in India is currently equipped to help ordinary people with chronic illness? What else needs to be done?<br />I don’t know enough about the healthcare sector in India to be able to comment. All I can say is that taking care of someone who is ill is very difficult, even in ideal circumstances.<br /><br />What would you do differently if you had a second chance at writing the same novel?<br />Every book has its own challenges. The only significant difference I would make if I were writing the book over would be to not aim for perfection in the early drafts, and to also ask for help earlier.<br /><br />After you found it difficult to establish yourself as a screenwriter, you turned to learning law at Harvard. Then your short story Cosmopolitan was made into a film. Do you see yourself as a screenwriter still?<br />I don’t view myself as a screenwriter.<br /><br />Do you watch Hindi films? If yes, are there chances of you writing a story for the films?<br />I don’t watch Hindi films now.<br /><br />Which is your favourite Hindi film, and why? <br />Sholay. I think this is the favourite Hindi movie of every Indian born in the 70s.<br /><br />How did you meet Lisa Swanson (wife)?<br />We met at law school.<br /><br />What Indian food do you like most? Do you cook?<br />I like dosas and chole-baturas. It’s often easier to go out and eat than cook at home.<br /><br />What facet of India do you keep close to your heart to feel you are an Indian in America?<br />The small statue of Ganesha on my desk.<br /><br />How do you keep in touch with what’s going on in India? <br />I have relatives in India who I talk to periodically.<br /><br />It seems there are more opportunities for Indian writers with many publishers out there. Is it true?<br />I think the international market has been open to Indians for sometime now. The opening started in the 1990s along with economic liberalisation.<br /></p>
<p>Akhil Sharma is the author of the novel Family Life, for which he won the Folio Prize in 2015. The novel, about a medical tragedy in the life of an Indian family that has migrated to the US, also made it to the shortlist of the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2016.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Delhi-born author is a Harvard Law School graduate, who resides in the United States. He teaches creative writing at Rutgers University in Newark. The short-story collection titled Mother and Son, and the novel An Obedient Father (recipient of several awards), are among his notable works. <br /><br />Akhil Sharma spoke about his life in general, and his works, to Sunday Herald recently. Here are some excerpts from the interview:<br /><br />‘Family Life’ took you 13 years to write. You’ve said you “wasted” nine years when it didn’t go well. What problems did you face?<br />I had problems with figuring out how to manage the plot. This was a technical challenge and took a long time to resolve. ‘Family Life’ addresses long-term illness and despair.<br /><br /> Do you think the healthcare sector in India is currently equipped to help ordinary people with chronic illness? What else needs to be done?<br />I don’t know enough about the healthcare sector in India to be able to comment. All I can say is that taking care of someone who is ill is very difficult, even in ideal circumstances.<br /><br />What would you do differently if you had a second chance at writing the same novel?<br />Every book has its own challenges. The only significant difference I would make if I were writing the book over would be to not aim for perfection in the early drafts, and to also ask for help earlier.<br /><br />After you found it difficult to establish yourself as a screenwriter, you turned to learning law at Harvard. Then your short story Cosmopolitan was made into a film. Do you see yourself as a screenwriter still?<br />I don’t view myself as a screenwriter.<br /><br />Do you watch Hindi films? If yes, are there chances of you writing a story for the films?<br />I don’t watch Hindi films now.<br /><br />Which is your favourite Hindi film, and why? <br />Sholay. I think this is the favourite Hindi movie of every Indian born in the 70s.<br /><br />How did you meet Lisa Swanson (wife)?<br />We met at law school.<br /><br />What Indian food do you like most? Do you cook?<br />I like dosas and chole-baturas. It’s often easier to go out and eat than cook at home.<br /><br />What facet of India do you keep close to your heart to feel you are an Indian in America?<br />The small statue of Ganesha on my desk.<br /><br />How do you keep in touch with what’s going on in India? <br />I have relatives in India who I talk to periodically.<br /><br />It seems there are more opportunities for Indian writers with many publishers out there. Is it true?<br />I think the international market has been open to Indians for sometime now. The opening started in the 1990s along with economic liberalisation.<br /></p>