When you believe you have a future, you think in terms of generations and years. When you do not, you live not just by the day — but by the minute.

The worst... was what the Pakistani soldiers did to the Bengali women after their failed rebellion.

It's much more difficult to work on a broad subject than on a specific one, because even if it's hard to find the information, if you look hard enough for something specific you will find it, and you will discover things that you wouldn't have thought of before.

I may attempt a novel. I think that no matter what you write, it requires being honest with oneself, and you have to pull yourself out of the whirlwind of daily life.

Its a wonderful thing to see a segment of our population that is open and eager to learn more about Chinese culture. It has filtered into the mainstream. You see credit-card ads on TV with white couples and Chinese babies.

I have certainly amassed many historical research gathering skills.

They probably do have an Asian Barbie.