While Hindustani music hasn't burst onto the American consciousness
yet, Indian fiction has, and Chandra has thought about why. The
Indian economic boom, the offshoring trend - both have captured
lots of attention in the
United States. "Reading fiction, or in any
sense interacting with people from another place, is broadening and
educational," he says. "I think this interest in Indian writing and
art is all connected to the economics and politics that have
suddenly brought
India into the American perspective as it's never
been before."
Around the corner from Banganga Tank and also on top of Malabar
Hill are the Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park. There's a view
of the city from each place. Stretching out below, the entire
Backbay area is visible, from Chowpatty Beach to Nariman Point and
beyond, to Colaba. Off to the north, Chandra's home in Bandra and
Sartaj Singh's fictional home can be seen. All of it, as far as the
eye can see, has been sculpted and folded into Chandra's book and
is available on a bookstore shelf.
If You Go
How to get there
American Airlines flies daily from Chicago O'Hare to Delhi; Air
Sahara flies from
Delhi to
Mumbai. For more information, visit
www.aa.com.
Attractions
Apoorva, seafood, Noble Chambers, S.A.
Brelvi Road, Fort, 011-91-22-228-703-35
Banganga Tank, Kamala Nehru Park, and
Mumbai Hanging Gardens, Malabar Hill
Bayview Bar, the Oberoi, Nariman Point,
011-91-22-663-257-57
China Gate, Indian-style Chinese, 155
Waterfield Road, Bandra West, 011-91-22-264-325-70