GraNdma’s tales Got me iNto writiNG, says youNG author

A huge crowd flocked to attend a book discussion featuring the 20-something Indian author, Manu S. Pillai, known for his debut non-fiction, The Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House

of Travancore, for which he won a top Indian literary Award.

Upon being asked about his interest in the ruling dynasties and royals in southern India, the young author said his interactions with his grandmother as a young boy and her vivid storytelling made him curious enough to dig deeper into the region’s history and culture, and eventually take up writing on these subjects. Manu doesn’t know how to read or write in

Not knowing the language (Malayalam) wasn’t ever an obstacle in telling tales from the historical period.”

Manu S. Pillai, Indian author

Malayalam but that didn’t stop him from writing. He said that contrary to popular assumptions, not knowing the language wasn’t ever an obstacle in telling tales from the historical period.