Indian novelist Anosh Irani needs distance to write about home

by Euan Kerr, Minnesota Public Radio

Novelist Anoshi Irani says while he still pines for India and in particular Bombay where he grew up. But he also says he knows he can't write about his homeland while he's there, because it's just too close.

St. Paul, Minn. — He now splits his time between Vancouver and India.

His new novel "The Song of Kahunsha" has been published by Minneapolis based Milkweed Editions.

The book follows two little boys living on the streets when the huge Indian city is torn apart by religious violence.

Irani told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr the book began as he was scribbling some notes.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 05/29/2007, 4:44 p.m.