Author Sabarna Roy sat down for a chat with the literary team of The Dispatch on 20th May 2021. The talk, conducted under the aegis of Literia Insight and The Dispatch, took place via video-conference on Zoom.
The conversation, moderated by The Dispatch’s Literary Editor Chirdeep Malhotra, discussed a melange of topics, including the origins of his books, the inspiration behind them, the aesthetics of book covers, his explorations with storytelling in different formats, and more.
Sabarna Roy is a civil engineer by profession and is the author of seven critically acclaimed bestselling books: Pentacles, Frosted Glass, Abyss, Winter Poems, Random Subterranean Mosaic: 2012-2018, Etchings of the First Quarter of 2020, and Fractured Mosaic.
The interaction started with the author discussing about his latest book Fractured Mosaic, and how it is a sequel to his book Random Subterranean Mosaic 2012-2018. Fractured Mosaic is yet another kaleidoscope from Sabarna Roy’s arsenal, and the reflective write-ups in this collection have been earlier published in reputed media houses as musings of the author. Sabarna reiterated that he has been constantly writing in the format of a journal to imitate how the mind works in real life.
Apart from discussing his latest book and his other literary works, Sabarna Roy also talked about his love for international television series, cinema and music. He said, “I would recommend the streaming platform Mubi.com to the audience. There is a large section of people who want to consume content in a form other than books. I enjoy watching international television series, world cinema, and out-of-the box films, and it has definitely broadened my world view and helped in my writing. It also helps in learning more about other cultures of the world.” The moderator, Chirdeep Malhotra, added that the audience could also check out the platform Omeleto, which features interesting and incredible award-winning short films.
The author also reflected on the past year and how he coped (and is still coping) amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and how his writing and reading schedules have been affected. There was also talk about the publishing world going forward post-pandemic, for which Sabarna was very hopeful. He said, “Readers and writers have to evolve with the changing landscape. Digital readership is the way forward, and writers and publishers should be ready for it. However, traditional publishing and reading formats are also here to stay.”
With the author’s diverse oeuvre, as he has dabbled in writing plays, reflective essays, short stories, poems, novellas, et al; when being asked about what writing format he liked the most, he said, “I look forward to writing conversations. Writing, be it in any genre, to me, is storytelling, in which the conversations can be between people, or between contrasting or harmonious thoughts in our minds.”
He brought to the conversation refreshing insights about book publishing, tips and tricks of the writing trade, and how the literary festivals would pan out in the post-pandemic world. However, what stood out the most in the conversation was his candidness and sagacity.
The author also said that readers must embrace diversity in their reading, and shared that reading Russian literature and psychology books has helped him give a wider breadth to his writing. Roy also told the audience that his upcoming literary work is a play with underpinnings of romance.
In his concluding remarks, Chirdeep Malhotra iterated, “Roy’s works reflect his views on the global order and individuals striving to find their place in it, but what’s really fascinating is the depth and the long-term aim of his writing and his dedication to foster his writing oeuvre. The literary team of The Dispatch wishes him the best in his writing endeavours”.
Readers can read more about Sabarna Roy’s book ‘Fractured Mosaic’ here and buy it here.
