Not many people write a whole book because a student asked them a curious question. But Conor Mulvagh, author of Irish Days, Indian Memories, isn’t like the most. A refreshing account of the life and times of Varahagiri Venkata Giri, the fourth President of India, Conor Mulvagh uncovers a vivid and neglected narrative of his life. The book talks about Giri’s life in Ireland, when he was a student at University College, Dublin from 1913-1916.
Excerpts from a freewheeling chat:
This is your first book. Why this story and genre?
In this book, I have tried to bring together a historical intersection between the Irish and the Indian nationalities, appealing to two different audiences. V V Giri, a pioneer in international education, arrives in Dublin along with twelve other Indian students to study law. That changes everything in the course of history in both the countries. Giri enjoys his student experience in Ireland. He learns a lot from the politics of Dublin. My interpretation is that he found a lot of his ideas in Ireland, took them home and applied them to make some major political decisions.
What’s your writing process?
I collect all my data in the day time and write during the quiet evenings. I would cycle to the closest library because cycling helps me think. Some days, words flow like a river while on others, I catch myself staring at a blank screen. But I always try writing something everyday.
Lecturer, researcher and now a published author. Which do you enjoy the most?
I’m going to say teaching. Mainly because teaching led to the research. Sometimes students can ask you wonderful questions which will eventually lead you to research a particular topic and that will open up an entirely new field. In fact, that was the origin of this book too, a question from a student.
Also, is there another book in the pipeline? Is it something related to Irish history?
Yes, I am working on my second book. But first, I will be publishing my doctoral thesis under the title of Irish Parliamentary party 1900-1918. That should be out this autumn, I hope. Following that, I will be writing my second book about the history of University College, Dublin during the Irish revolution. Being a lecturer in Irish history, my books will be of the same genre.
Who was V V Giri?
He was the fourth President of India. Expelled from Ireland in 1916, Giri returned to India where he joined the Indian National Congress Party and became active in the trade union movement
The Giri Connection
In V V Giri’s memoir, he has a chapter titled Irish days where he talks about his Irish memories in an Indian perspective. So, Irish Days, Indian Memories was naturally a very apt name for the book
This project began in 2014. He spent two years researching this book. It got written very quickly, but the research took its own time
There were a lot of questions, “Did V V Giri get his degree? Why did he come to Ireland? Why was he expelled?”
Little did he imagine that what started out as such a small task would become a fascinating journey of discovery into an almost forgotten episode in the deeply connected histories of India and Ireland
Author’s note
Mulvagh’s debut book Irish Days, Indian Memories is an account of the life of VV Giri, the fourth Indian President and his days in Ireland
A lecturer in Irish History at the University, Dublin, Conor Mulvagh said that he will be publishing his doctoral thesis under the title of Irish Parliamentary Party 1900-1918 next