– Nadeem Aslam in conversation with Sunil Sethi
Sunil Sethi introduced British Pakistani author Nadeem Aslam as ‘one of the most original voices of the 20th century.’ Aslam described characters from The Blind Man’s Garden, his novel written about rebellions taking place in a developing town in Pakistan. The audience listened with rapt attention as he read the first page of the novel, and discussed the opening line – ‘History is the third parent’ – saying he had written it to bring the story of the war out from the landscape and explore the themes of ‘forbidden love’ and the quest for the beloved. Aslam said that whenever he visits Pakistan, he feels that ‘God is not dead in Pakistan’ but is very much guiding the life of people there. Despite his love for Pakistan, Asla said he feels at home anywhere in the world, as long as he is with people whom he loves. Sethi described how Nadeem had faced various hardships in his life, to which Aslam responded that no matter their circumstances, ‘an artist is never poor,’ and that he hoped his books connected to people, so that they can relate the stories and themes to their own lives.
Jaipur Literature Festival 