I rarely listen to music while writing. If I don't like it, it bothers me, and if I like it, it absorbs me so much I can't write.

I don't pick and choose subjects or settings; they pick and choose me.

I think if something is worth doing, it's worth doing well. And worth thinking about it as well.

All over India, all over the world, as the sun or the shadow of darkness moves from east to west, the call to prayer moves with it, and people kneel down in a wave to pray to God. Five waves each day - one for each namaaz - ripple across the globe from longitude to longitude. The component elements change direction, like iron filings near a magnet - towards the house of God in Mecca.

I spent many years of my life as an economist and demographer. I was finally distracted by writing my novels and poetry. I'm enormously happy that was the case. I feel that with writing I have found my metier.

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.

I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.