Among the many awards that Amitav Ghosh has won, two are closest to his heart. First is the Padma Shri, which the Government of India conferred upon him in 2007. "I hadn't realised what it means to get a Padma Shri," he told rediff.com. "Suddenly my relatives were calling from Calcutta Kolkata)and saying our neighbours came over and gave us sweets!"
His other favourite -- and one somewhat unexpected for an Indian writer in English, since it is given to writers of science fiction -- is the Arthur C Clarke Award, which he won for
The Calcutta Chromosome in 1997. After he wrote the book, described as a 'mystery thriller' partially set in the future, he happened to meet the celebrated space scientist, screenwriter and influential author who lived in Sri Lanka. Confined to a wheelchair on account of polio, Sir Clarke, who died March 19 at 90, seemed to Ghosh a genial old gent. Until he sprung a surprise.
The Arthur C Clarke Award must have meant a lot to you...
It did. What was even more interesting was one day when I was in Sri Lanka, (Arthur C Clarke) invited me to visit him. And when I went to his house he insisted on playing table tennis with me.
And how good are you at table tennis?
Like your usual Indian hostel guy who has played table tennis to while away the hours. I can hit a pretty mean shot. But he was genuinely mean.
(Arthur C Clarke) was a completely delightful man but when it came to table tennis he was completely transformed. You see, he had his own rules -- he would play on half the board and I would play on the full one. He was so old and so kindly, so I agreed. But then I suddenly realised this guy was intent on winning!
Even to visit his house was such an extraordinary event. One forgets this -- and one shouldn't -- that he was really like a monument. His walls were lined with tributes from everybody -- from Steven Spielberg to all the presidents and all the astronauts. While I was sitting with him, the admiral of the American Third Fleet called him. And ten minutes later, some major Hollywood star called him. So, he was just sitting there in his wheelchair fielding all these phone calls. And outside his house there was this giant satellite dish -- it was a completely otherworldly experience!
Video, click above: 'Bombay was born in the poppy fields of Bihar': Amitav Ghosh in a Q and A session with Naresh Fernandes, editor of Time Out Mumbai at the launch of Sea of Poppies in Mumbai.
Also read: Jhumpa Lahiri achieves a rare feat
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