Self-publishing is freedom of expression, feels Amish Tripathi
Nine years after he stormed into the literary world selling three million copies of The Immortals of Meluha, author Amish Tripathi’s mythological fiction juggernaut has been on a roll. He has written The Secret of the Nagas, The Oath of the Vayuputras, Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku, Sita: Warrior of Mithila, and Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta — with the exception of Immortal India, his only non-fiction book. He was recently announced the director of the Nehru Centre, the cultural wing of the Indian High Commission in London, and he plans to move to the UK next month.
You have single-handedly secured six out of 10 spots in a national bestsellers’ list. What do you think sets mythology apart?
A love story explores just one aspect of the human condition and emotion. Whereas an epic of mythology explores almost all aspects — grief, heroism, disgust, all the navrasas, one of which is love. That’s a bit like saying mythology is like a thaali with all the dishes, whereas a love story would probably be the daal in it.
You self-published your debut novel. What made you decide to quit your decade-long career in banking and write full-time?
If no one else is backing you, then you should back yourself. It may not be your ideal choice, but it’s better than letting your voice be shut down. I see it as freedom of expression.
Thoughts on self-publishing visà-vis being backed by a publishing house?
Though a publisher’s backing is always good, quality should be measured over time and not by individuals. You never know when a fine author would emerge from selfpublishing.
Do you feel that brick-and-mortar bookstores and libraries are fast disappearing?
There is nothing that can replace physical bookstores which aid browsing, which is the only way new authors get discovered. This is a real challenge, and it’s happening across the world. It’s not easy to browse online, so people at the top-end, the bestsellers on the home page, or people at the longtail, they profit from online bookstores. Just as a strong middle-class is a must for a healthy economy, similarly a strong average market and the average bestseller are the lifeblood of an industry.
What are you currently reading?
Deep Halder’s Blood Island and Vikram Sampath’s Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
You want to be a good writer? Be a good reader first.