Vikas Swarup in conversation with Sanjana Raj, regaled the audience with his trademark wit and humor, sharing insights into his hectic schedule as a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. He recounted visiting 40 countries with Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, including a memorable trip with Ms. Sushma Swaraj to a central Asian country, and subsequently boarding PM Modi’s plane across the tarmac for his visit to Ireland. He also recounted his experiences at the Oscar ceremony which he attended in 2009 for Slumdog Millionaire.
As the author of four bestselling books, Swarup discussed his latest release, “The Girl with the Seven Lives,” which came after a 10-year hiatus due to professional commitments. He took a year and a half to write the book, choosing the number seven for its symbolic significance, inspired by the Seven Wonders of the World and seven habits of highly effective people. He said he did not choose nine lives for his protagonist as she would then be identified with a cat, and he is a great cat lover!
Swarup also took a strategic decision to keep the book concise (400 pages) for easier translation into other languages, citing the success of his debut novel “Q & A,” now translated into 47 languages. He revealed proposals for adapting “The Girl with 7 Lives” into a film, including from a prominent Bollywood actress.
The evening offered a captivating glimpse into Swarup’s writing and perspectives on social issues through his protagonist Devi’s eyes, which is why he prefers to term his books “social thrillers.” It was an enriching evening spent with Vikas Swarup.
