In a painting, you can't make out whether the artist painted the left eye before the right eye. In Chinese calligraphy, you can see the progression of the artist's stroke.

I think goodness is about how person behaves to person, and also person to world, to nature.

Poetry, I think, intensifies the reader's experience. If it's a humorous facet of the story, poetry makes it more exuberant. If it's a sad facet, poetry can make it more poignant.

You know, I can imagine not writing a novel and writing poetry only.

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

It's not the gods But our own hearts We need to fear. The evil starts Against all odds Not there but here.

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.