Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
India

Writers Should Stay Away From Activism: Booker Winner Marlon James

Darpan News Desk IANS, 22 Jan, 2016 11:43 AM
    Writers run the risk of didacticism if they turn into activists, says Marlon James, the first Jamacian to win the Booker Prize in 2015.
     
    "I think the writer enters a dangerous zone by becoming an activist. Didacticism will destroy a book. Writers should try to do their job and let activists do theirs," he told IANS on the sidelines of the the ninth edition of Jaipur Literature festival.
     
    James, a professor of English at Minnesota's Macalester College, feels writers need to strike a balance when it comes to dealing with social issues. 
     
    He won the Booker Prize for "A Brief History of Seven Killings". The novel, set in the 1970s and 1980s, is based on the story of an assassination attempt on reggae star Bob Marley. The book explores the turbulent political situation in Jamaica and the West during that period,
     
    "It's not really about Marley. It's about what happened to the man who tried to kill him and all the people whose life got affected by the assassination attempt," says James.
     
    The book is told through fifteen characters including gunmen, dons, and politicians. Interestingly, the author hasn't mentioned Marley by name. But what led to the book?
     
    "I was curious about the assassination attempt on the singer in 1976. Nobody talked about it. Being a writer, I was attracted to the holes in the story, to the unanswered questions and to fill in the gaps," he said.
     
    James says his literary sensibilities were formed in Jamaica though he moved to the US later for work. And he is not quite sure how his book would be accepted in India as it had explicit scenes of sex and gore.
     
    "I have noticed that in India, writers face censorship. My book is quite explicit. I don't know how it will be accepted," he adds.
     
    Though there is no direct censorship in Jamaica, he feels that the country still harboured an outdated Victorian sense of morality.
     
    "Writers keep writing without caring much about consequences. It's our hope. The balancing of freedom and censorship is a very slippery slope," he feels.
     
    How has life changed after Booker? "People give importance to what I say now. If I put something on Facebook, it becomes the headline of The Guardian," he chuckles.
     
    His next book, will be an 'African Game of Thrones', set within the continent.
     
    "I was sick of arguing about whether there should be a black hobbit in the 'Lord of the Rings'. The book will be drawn from the African folklore that is rich and diverse," he said.
     
    A big fan of Salman Rushdie, he loves many Indian authors. "I have too many favourite Indian writers. I am a fan of Amitav Ghosh, Amitava Kumar and Jeet Thayil among many others," said James adding that he admired Anuradha Roy's book, the Indian contender in the Booker race.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    In A First, French Contingent To Join In India's Republic Day Parade

    In A First, French Contingent To Join In India's Republic Day Parade
    For the first time ever, a foreign contingent will participate in the Republic Day parade -- French troops will march down the Rajpath on January 26, official sources said.

    In A First, French Contingent To Join In India's Republic Day Parade

    Punjab Bans Manufacture Of 'gutka', Some Other Tobacco Products

    Punjab Bans Manufacture Of 'gutka', Some Other Tobacco Products
    Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ordered the ban on Thursday, said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office.

    Punjab Bans Manufacture Of 'gutka', Some Other Tobacco Products

    Netflix Launched In India With Free One-month Subscription

    Netflix Launched In India With Free One-month Subscription
    After much anticipation, popular American on-demand video streaming service Netflix has made its way to India, that too with a free one-month subscription.

    Netflix Launched In India With Free One-month Subscription

    Overseas Indians Ministry To Merge With MEA: Sushma Swaraj

    Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) will be merged with her ministry.

    Overseas Indians Ministry To Merge With MEA: Sushma Swaraj

    India Names Jaish-e-Muhammad, Its Chief For Pathankot Terror Attack

    India Names Jaish-e-Muhammad, Its Chief For Pathankot Terror Attack
    JeM goes by two other names in Pakistan, after it was banned in 2002. 

    India Names Jaish-e-Muhammad, Its Chief For Pathankot Terror Attack

    Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Laid To Rest; PDP Seeks Mehbooba As CM, BJP Wants 50:50 Formula

    Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Laid To Rest; PDP Seeks Mehbooba As CM, BJP Wants 50:50 Formula
    A huge mass of mourners assembled at the first 'Nimaz-e-Jinaza' (funeral prayer) for Sayeed here and a second in his hometown Bijbehara where he was laid to rest.

    Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Laid To Rest; PDP Seeks Mehbooba As CM, BJP Wants 50:50 Formula