Too many trees are killed to print the words of people who may not have all that much to say, and authors and journalists are equally culpable in this regard. Vikram Seth authorculpableequally Change image and share on social
I have a reputation for being hermitlike. I'm not. I'm just obsessed with my work. Vikram Seth hermitlikeobsessreputation Change image and share on social
I think it's possible to be multi-rooted, rather like a banyan tree, without being deracinated. Vikram Seth banyanderacinatemulti Change image and share on social
Of course, I have to consider that I've written a lot of prose, but I do in my heart think of myself as being originally, and still primarily, a poet. Vikram Seth haveheartlot Change image and share on social
You get your inspiration - suggestions - wherever you have to, even from your mother. Vikram Seth inspirationmothersuggestion Change image and share on social
I don't think people give Indian society enough credit. We may not like to talk much about things but we do, basically, want to live and let live. Vikram Seth basicallycreditgive Change image and share on social
Realism hasn't fallen out of favor with most people, who are interested in people's lives rather than gymnastics of style or literary trends. It's a certain kind of academic who undervalues realism, largely because it is not amenable to endless exegesis. Vikram Seth academicamenableendless share on social
Everyone sort of sees his own life and times as being ephemeral. One thinks that everything good or important that happened, happened in the past. But I think that seeing scenes that you are used to, but with the heightening effects of poetry, perhaps makes you value your life and times more than you might otherwise do. Vikram Seth effectephemeralgood share on social
In a painting, you can't make out whether the artist painted the left eye before the right eye. In Chinese calligraphy, you can see the progression of the artist's stroke. Vikram Seth artistcalligraphychinese Change image and share on social
The point really is that a writer tends to write a book that he or she tends to write. It's as simple as that. Of course, it's important to make a living and all that, but the main impulse as far as I'm concerned - and I'm sure as other writers are concerned - is to tell a story that I feel impelled by. Vikram Seth bookconcernfeel share on social