Debut novel: ‘Novels and films have a tangible and concrete effect’

Dastgir talks about the inspiration, process and plot of A Small Fortune.

LAHORE:

Authenticity, nostalgia and exploration Rosie Dastgir says are what set apart writers true to their inner voice.

Dastgir was speaking on Monday at a talk on her debut novel A Small Fortune, and engaging with literary maestros including Mustansar Hussain Tarar and Mazharul Islam at the Avari hotel.

The Pakistani-British writer shared her experiences while writing her book, which deals with the complexities of immigrant communities in Britain and differences that emerge due to different family and cultural backgrounds.

Dastgir spoke of memories as ingredients that facilitated her writings and offered her the opportunity for introspection. Her time away from Britain, she said, had provided an uninterrupted stretch for the long process of writing. “I feel that I needed a long stretch of time to sink and immerse myself in the world of writing,” she said. However, much had changed in Britain during the seven years she was away. “Once back, I saw how established the south Asian community was…Britain had been remade by its immigrant population.”

The session, moderated by Raza Rumi, jumped from dialogue to a larger discussion on literature especially in reference to Pakistan. How faithful had she stayed to the plot, Rumi asked her. “I had trouble with the plot at several points,” she said, “but it was the characters that drove the plot.”

The story’s protagonist Harris, a devout Muslim, lands £53,000 as a result of a divorce settlement in England and is caught up in the dilemma of distributing the money among his poor extended family in Pakistan or giving it to his westernised daughter. This is the central idea of the plot, said Dastgir.

“Memory and nostalgia are rooted in one’s writings. You constantly build stories without realising it,” she said.

She discussed the importance of imagination - the most exciting part of writing. “Imaginative projection, when writers pull out characters from their imagination that behave in the most unimaginable ways, is most exciting” she said.

Replying to a question about the role of literature in the real world, Dastgir said there was growing impact. “I think literature often plays positive role in the world,” she said, “it travels across the world due to globalisation and is making an impact as we speak.”

The recent controversy surrounding Penguin Books India decision to recall The Hindus: An Alternative History by American writer Wendy Doniger was mentioned and the discussion shifted to the issue of censorship. “I think novels and films have a tangible and concrete effect, but it sometimes invites censorship,” she said.

She said in the wake of resistance towards the book, publishers were not ready to stand up to those opposing it. “That tells us that there is a fear of writing and there are powers strong enough to challenge the written word,” she said.

Mustansar Hussain Tarar discussed the conflict between young Pakistani authors writing in English and seasoned Urdu writers and poets.

“The latter feel that don’t get the ‘VIP treatment’ younger English writers receive...this leads to a lot of misunderstandings,” he said.

When asked about her source of inspiration, Dastgir said the process of penning down words on paper offered her inspiration. “Words and sentences are like bricks in a building, once you start putting them in place, you continue till the construction and narration is complete,” she said.

Dastgir has experimented with radio play, non-fiction and docu-dramas. She has also worked in the BBC’s documentary and research unit.

Dastgir will also be participating in the upcoming Lahore Literature Festival scheduled for the coming weekend.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2014.