Climbing the wide stairs to the American Center Library in
New Delhi, I had no idea what to expect. Most libraries have relatively small
common spaces and a few meeting rooms. So I was surprised and pleased to see
the huge open space packed with library patrons and guests, all awaiting the
book launch of RIVERS RUN BACK.
Located in Connaught Place, one of the largest commercial
and business centers in New Delhi, the American Center is dedicated to supporting
the U.S. Embassy's mission to promote mutual understanding between the people
of India and the United States.
Since RIVERS RUN BACK is a work of fiction co-authored by an Indian writer (Arindam Roy) and myself, we were invited to discuss our collaborative process
at the American Center Library. Kala Dutt, the Library Director, warmly welcomed us, as did Emily B. White, Program Director of the American Center, Ramesh Jain from the US Embassy, and Aditi Mody from the Chicago Center in Delhi (a co-sponsor of the event).
Our publisher, Renu Kaul Verma of Vitasta, was present, as
was our editor, Veena Batra. It was wonderful to hear how Veena got so involved
in reading our book that she frequently forgot her role as editor!
We discussed the Indo-American connections in RIVERS RUN
BACK and Arindam explained the origin of our title – how in India the yearning
of rivers to run back signifies the deep introspection experienced by all of
us—male or female, Eastern or Western—during the different stages in our lives.
I described how one of our American characters, Marilyn –
who marries an Indian from Allahabad - decides to discover India for herself and
finds meaning and comfort in the story of Durga, the powerful goddess who
defeats demons both personal and universal. Arindam discussed how his
background as a journalist covering the ‘criminal beat’ gave him insights into
the ferocious nature of our antagonist, Narsimha.
Arindam and I originally met and began our book-writing
project on Facebook, so it was fitting that many of our longtime Facebook
friends were present. It was thrilling to meet some of them for the first time.
Landing in Seattle after 23 hours of travel, these wonderful
happenings in Delhi seemed like a dream. Except that inside my suitcase, 3
shrink-wrapped books and a slew of promotional pamphlets were nestled, waiting
to remind me that after three years of toil, ‘creative tension,’ and laughter
with my writing partner, RIVERS RUN BACK has finally been launched.
