He has already written three books — If God was a Banker (2007), Devil in Pinstripes (2009) and The Incredible Banker (2011) — about the banking sector. And yet, Mumbai-based Ravi Subramanian’s fourth and most recent novel The Bankster is about the same industry that he is known to have a tremendous passion for. “When I started writing The Bankster, I wanted to write a book that was different, yet similar,” says the author who will soon be in the city to officially release his latest work. “I definitely wanted the industry to be the same, but the story to be fresh. Because otherwise, people will write you off.”
Subramanian, who continues to enjoy a lucrative career in the banking and financial sector, with the experience of having worked in multinational banks for over 18 years, explains that he has tried to incorporate certain new elements in this book. Thriller, murder mystery, he enthusiastically lists, before revealing a good chunk of the book’s plot without a hint of hesitation — “It’s about a series of murders, money laundering and scandal.” He goes on: “It’s an intriguing tale which brings in many angles - the CIA, a diamond smuggling racket and a nuclear protest (among other things).”
If you’ve read his The Incredible Banker, you’ll know that Subramaniam is not one to focus on technical mumbo jumbo, despite the fact that his stories are all set in a banking backdrop. The Bankster will be a much easier read when compared to his previous book, promises the author. “I’ve taken pains to ensure that I don’t sound like a banking lesson,” he laughs, before adding, “I’ve tried to make a deviation from core banking.” Contrary to the popular belief that banking is a boring industry, Subramanian asserts it’s not. “It’s got everything that you’ll look for in a potboiler - people, relationships, investigations, crime, fraud and most importantly, money!”
With nearly two decades of experience in the banking sector, it doesn’t take too much to come to the conclusion that financial institutions are sort of a shrine to this author, who is fondly referred to as the ‘John Grisham of the Indian banking industry’. But what would he rather be known as - the banker or author? “Both,” he immediately answers. “Ravi the author would not have been possible if not for Ravi the banker.” After apologising for sounding sexist, he continues to explain, “My job is like my wife and my writing is my girlfriend.”
