The Hindu Lit For Life | Imayam on life and how literature teaches one to be kind

Living well means living without bothering others, without desiring others’ belongings, and without having to visit hospitals, prisons, courtrooms or police stations. What I like to do on an everyday basis when I am not writing or reading? I like to help someone.

Just today, I helped someone get an organ transplant at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. At the Kalaignar Centenary Library, someone complained of blood pressure problems, and I have admitted him to a hospital. A wood-carving artist has sought help to get State-level recognition. In addition to all this, I had to sort out a domestic quarrel between two neighbours that had reached the police station.

So I just want to meet and interact with people daily, and if possible, I would like to help them in any way I can.

Having authored novels such as Koveru Kazhudhaigal, Savu Soru and Selladha Panam, I credit literature as my guiding light.

It always teaches me to be more affectionate and kind. I can’t help everyone in every way, but what little I can do, I will do, and only if I do so would I be able to sleep peacefully that night. Books teach one not to bear any resentment or hostility, and that life is short and wonderful.

You can achieve certain things out of love, but hatred achieves nothing more than hatred. Every book tells me, ‘This isn’t enough; love more and be more kind.’

Of late, I seem to have developed a liking for Hindi songs. But I don’t know the language well (laughs).

I am listening to songs, like for instance, ‘Radhe Krishna,’ though I don’t believe in God, or ‘Madhuram Madhuram’. It is my mindset that makes me choose such indulgences. I can’t plan it. Because I believe that you don’t choose art; art chooses you. I am also reading a lot of international authors lately. I mostly read Tamil translations of national and international authors.

What fascinates me is how they paint landscapes. I find our writers to be lacking that skill; many books here don’t speak about the land they are set in.

Imayam and Prabha Sridevan will be in conversation with Kavitha Muralidharan (Tamil) on January 17 from 10.40am to 11.30am at The Hindu Pavilion

— As told to Bhuvanesh Chandar

What Imayam is reading currently

‘The Death Script: Dreams and Delusions in Naxal Country,’ by Ashutosh Bhardwaj

‘Letter to a Child Never Born’ by Oriana Fallaci

‘Silk’ (’Seta’) by Alessandro Baricco

‘A Small Step in a Long Journey,’ the autobiography of Akkai Padmashali

‘PK Rosy,’ by Kunnukuzhi S Mani

‘Makkalin Thozhar,’ the Tamil translation of the autobiography of KK Shailaja

‘Maiyerumai,’ by Alayathi Senthil