TG: How would youdescribe ‘Hip Hop Boys And Other Poems’?
RB: The soul ofthe illustrated anthology, as the name hints, is about the hip-hop children whodance to the rhythm of the mountain rain and explore nature as a learning room.This new anthology is based on poems that are suitable for children. Some ofthe poems are old, some are new and some have been specifically written for thecollection. Some of them might have a message, but they are more realisticpoems that are based on my observations of nature.
TG: Do you think today’syoungsters are interested in poetry?
RB: I think a lotof them resort to writing poetry to put their emotions into words, unlike inthe past when they liked to read and think. However, I think they would writebetter poetry if they read more of it. The problem is that most of them havetheir heads in their laptops or cell phones. That has changed the readinghabits of the children. Ironically, there’s more access to books now thanbefore thanks to the internet but less of actual reading.
TG: Whatcontinues to inspire you?
RB: People andnature are my best bets when it comes to finding subjects for stories orpoetry. However, I don’t write as much as I used to because of the age factor.Now I sleep more and have to, at times, push myself to put pen to paper.
TG: Any more collaborationswith filmmakers?
RB: My story ‘AFlight Of Pigeons’ which was about the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was made into afilm by Shyam Benegal with the title ‘Junoon’. Later, Vishal Bharadwaj madefilms based on my story ‘The Blue Umbrella’ and more recently the short story ‘Susanna’sSeven Husbands’. As of now, however, I am not collaborating with any filmmaker.Writing for films is a different art altogether.
TG: Have you everfaced the dreaded Writer’s Block?
RB: Occasionally Ihave abandoned a manuscript because of a block in the writing process. Storiesor novels are best written in a continuous creative process. You have a feel ofimmediacy.
TG: Do you lovewriting about ghosts?
RB: When I runout of people I invent ghosts. However, I have yet to see one.
TG: So what’scoming up next?
RB: I am notsure. I just write and then it takes shape of its own “ sometimes it comes outas a short story, sometimes a novel. The important thing is to keep writingbecause that’s the only thing I know.
