Homeward bound

Some think it is his Calcutta chromosome. But something, certainly, is drawing writer Amitav Ghosh back to India, triggering speculation on why the author of The Hungry Tide is seeking to return home. Thereason, however, is simple: home is where his new book is. New York-based Ghosh, who recently gave up teaching in Harvard because it left him with little time to devote to writing, is going to write a three-volume novel while based in India. Sea of Poppies, the first book in the set tentatively called The Ibis Trilogy, will be out early next year. Ghosh describes it as his “most ambitious undertaking” so far. And publishers Penguin India are ecstatic. “It is an absolutely euphoric feeling,” it says — a sentiment, no doubt, that Ghosh’s legion of fans would share.

Local warming

It takes two to tango. And that is why, when arch foes Asim Dasgupta and Ashok Mitra — Bengal’s present and former finance minister, respectively — sat opposite each other at a dinner at the Governor’s residence earlier this week, there was some promise of action. The two economists haven’t spoken for over two decades, ever since the outspoken Mitra left Jyoti Basu’s government in 1986. But, gently prodded by a mutual friend at the dinner hosted in honour of visiting Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, the two finally decided to let bygones be bygones. “We did speak,” said Dasgupta later. “But he spoke to me first.” The hatchet has been buried — now they have to tackle the sickle.

Music retold

Born after your father did away with his 78 RPM collection — and you never got to hear Amir Khan? Don’t worry: a recording company and a treasure trove of Indian classical music are coming together to present music lovers with old records turned into new compact discs. Music company Saregama has taken some of the priceless records from the archives of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and the result is a set of six new CDs. The first lot includes the shehnai of Bismillah Khan, the voice of Amir Khan and the beats of Ahmedjaan Thirakhwa. As some would say, Enjoy!

Selling cells

Poor Sehwag ki maa — she just doesn’t stand a chance any more. Gone are the days when the good lady figured — albeit off screen — for a cell phone advertisement. Now Reliance has Riya Sen, Tata Indicom has Sania Mirza and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigal Ltd is trying to rope in Preity Zinta. Mandira Bedi, with a neckline as wide as her smile, is on Reliance’s hoardings for its Value Added Services, while Ms Sen also woos customers over the radio inviting them out on a date. It’s not quite clear why Bharti (Airtel) is seemingly not in need of a pretty woman. What’s evident, though, is that signing Sania may have increased Tata Indicom’s brand recall. Let’s hope that Riya Sen doesn’t merely serve to increase an MMS recall.

Booker, Bookest

Okay, so we finally have word from one literary agent by the name of David Godwin that Arundhati Roy, 1997 Booker Prize winner for her solo novel The God of Small Things, is at it again. But there’s more news that seems to be filtering out of the writer-activist’s Kautilya Marg residence in New Delhi. And no, it’s not about The Goddess of Big Issues. In the news is her filmmaker partner, Pradip Krishen, who has penned the much-appreciated Trees of Delhi. The success of the book on, well, the trees of Delhi, has astounded its publishers. First released in February 2006, the book has already gone into its third print order, with the first two prints of 3,000 copies each having flown off the shelves. “Frankly, I didn’t expect it to sell so much,” says Krishen of the book. “The publishers thought it would, and I just believed them.” Here’s someone who is not missing the trees for the wood.

Waterloo

When in Karnataka, don’t even suggest sharing the Cauvery. Actor-director Girish Karnad learned this the hard way. When the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal announced its verdict — perceived in the state as anti-Karnataka — recently, Karnad said it should be honored by the state. And, as expected, all hell broke loose. Karnad’s effigies were burnt and he had to be provided police protection as death threats poured in. Even the state government removed Karnad’s bust and his pictures from posters at its official exhibition stall at the annual Siddaganga Mutt exhibition. Liberals in the state are saying, though in hushed tones, that Karnad has a right to express his opinion, while some hold that it’s a perfect case of foot-in-mouth. But all agree that the time has come to build a bridge over troubled water.