And the process of reading is such a private one. I once came into a room where a friend of mine was reading one of my books, and he clicked his tongue impatiently and shooed me off.

You have to learn a few things, which you do along the way, but basically, poetry is a matter of the ear. Iambic pentameters or what constitutes a stanza comes naturally - your ears will know.

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.

I want my books to sell, to be read. I'm not interested in being obscure.

In spite of all temptations of belonging to many nations, I've remained an Indian.

You get your inspiration - suggestions - wherever you have to, even from your mother.

And an equation is the same whether it's written in red or green ink