Timing is of essence when you introduce your first book to a city that’s relatively new to you. Good timing could well make your own and your book’s bonding with a people a lot easier and more invigorating. Journalist and now author Avirook Sen is one of the lucky ones. Even before he could show Chennaiites what happens when he opens up his heart on the world’s (still) most powerful country and its people, our readers and intellectuals were already warmed up, and favourably so, because US President Obama was on his visit to India at just about the same time. So, the timing of the Chennai launch of Sen’s much-talked about Looking for America was in some way, an ice-breaker.
While that just took care of the start, it was solely Sen and his ability to opinionate, express and engage that set the evening going. That, along with a quick wit and an infectious sense of humour, that Sen’s blessed with, as the small gathering of journalists and critics at Summit, the plush hall at Taj Mount Road, realised from the very start. In conversation with the author was journalist and founding member of the Madras Wine Club, Mukund Padmanabhan.
Mukund decided to start off with a warm note of welcome to Sen as he recalled how the duo first met in Kolkata when “Avirook was all of 21”. He went on to point out that the book was “a socio-political commentary on time; a window to understanding what America was thinking about at a certain point of time.” Why? Because the book covers a number of America’s significant moments — the first anniversary of the 9/11, the run up to the presidential elections among others.
“Travel writing is making a distinction between yourself and the culture you come from. Though Avirook doesn’t think that it’s (the book) an Indian’s perception on America, I thought this was an ‘Indian’ book and that’s why I really liked it,” said Mukund. To which Sen was quick to respond, “My book tries to reflect the large English-speaking population outside of the UK and the US. I've used a lot of pop culture references that are embedded in us. Whether they’re batter-frying chicken or going to war, America affects us.”
Sen also kept the audience engrossed with interesting trivia. “My son and I took a large map of the US and threw darts at it. Wherever they landed, I went there” (a theory Mukund Padmanabhan refused to buy) or “Americans are very shy about swearing” or “I met a world-class chef in Chicago who after getting tongue cancer continued cooking.”
By the end of the evening, we just knew what made this charming Bong journo a true hero — in his odyssey across American heartland’s lesser known, yet significant places, Sen had indeed captured the mood of the people during one of the country’s most poignant moments.