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Photo: K. Pichumani

Writer and historian William Dalrymple

Prior to Dalrymple’s talk, K. Vijayakumar, Head of the Department of English, Government College for Women, succinctly introduced the historian, author and journalist to the audience at VJT Hall. Laced with humour and anecdotes, the introduction by Prof Vijayakumar lucidly captured Dalrymple’s success as one of the best travel writers. It also highlighted his abiding interest in Eastern Christianity and India.

Inspired by his lecture, many in the audience rushed to buy books from a stall put up on the premises by Modern Book Centre. While many were fans of the author of books such as ‘City of Djinns,’ ‘In the Age of Kali,’ “Mountain Of Faith’ and so on, some in the audience were newcomers who wanted to acquaint themselves with Dalrymple’s style of writing that is a happy fusion of fascinating prose backed by meticulous research.

After Dalrymple’s talk on the ‘Great Mughal,’ his previous book, in which he spoke about how the fusion of cultures in India was gradually replaced by a clash of cultures in those times, he patiently signed books and answered questions despite the heat and the glare of the lights that had him gulping glasses of water.

According to him another book on the Mughals is on the anvil while research on yet another book – on popular religion, festivals and pilgrimages – in on in full swing. Mention of Sabarimala and Attukal caught his attention. Searching for scraps of paper he jotted down the names while trying to gather more information on the two pilgrimages and temples.

Kerala is not new to the author as he has made a documentary on St. Thomas (‘Doubting Thomas’) and also written about the Chottanikkara Temple in his book of essays ‘The Age of Kali – Indian Travels and Encounters.’

Why this fascination for India?

“Well, I came to India in 1984 and it has been an endless fascination for the country’s past and present. It appeals on many levels – history, culture, people, food … India is an endless source of inspiration. Some of the things here evoke anger, frustration, irritation but never boredom,” says the writer.

“Moreover, my two areas of study have been Eastern Christianity and India. It was my work on St. Thomas that first brought me to Kerala.” Referring to his current trip to Kerala, he says: “It is unlike any other place I have been to. It is so complex. One has to study the place anew to make some sense of the scene here,” he says.

The author plans to be return to the State soon to collect material on his book. For another odyssey, this time through the colourful festivals and pilgrimages that Kerala and India are famous for.

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