“I’m very comfortable around people who are homesick but not sure where home is.” Avni Doshi on the impact of culture, motherhood and identity on her creative writing process, and the UAE’s nascent literary ecosystem.
Description
Hashem catches up with Avni Doshi, author of ‘Burnt Sugar’, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize. In her book, Avni explores the themes of identity, culture and motherhood. The heartfelt discussion captures the poignant moments of personal growth that permeate her narrative, now seen through the lens of maternal experience, where vulnerability and understanding intertwine. Their conversion navigates Avni’s love of astrology, her artistic doubts, and the prospect of her book hitting the big screen.
Links
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00:00 Coming up
02:21 Character development
07:56 Anticipating success
08:53 The role of the mother in India
11:26 From child to caretaker
15:42 Moving to India
18:40 Harper’s Bazaar India comes knocking
20:55 Homesick but not sure where home is
22:18 Girl in White Cotton
24:35 First publication by Harper Collins India
25:35 Second publication by Penguin’s Hamish Hamilton in the UK
26:29 ‘Girl in White Cotton’ becomes ‘Burnt Sugar’
28:46 Booker’s Prize Shortlist
30:08 The brutality of motherhood
32:50 Real politics plays out in the family
34:38 The pressure of success
38:02 Avni’s writing process
44:48 Writing peer groups
46:54 Responding to critique
49:55 UAE’s literary scene
United States
