In a recent interview, the author of the novel 'Rising Sons' shared insights into the book's creation, themes, and research process. The story is set in a village in the 1920s, coinciding with the beginning of India's independence struggle.
Origins of the Book
The author explained that most of her books start with a character, and for this novel, she pictured a young man from a village during the 1920s. 'I thought what would happen to a young man who heard about this... but it was all very vague in my mind. So I started by first creating that village. And that is how I thought of the parents, and then Devaraya came into being.' The village, Kesarugattu, meaning 'village of mud', was a fascinating creation. The initial chapters delve deep into the social fabric of village life, including its complexities, frictions, and companionship.
Creative Liberties and Caste Structures
When asked about creative liberties and whether a universal blueprint of village or caste structures exists, the author stated that they are unique to each place. 'People a hundred years ago took for granted that this hierarchy was necessary. And when anybody tried to break that hierarchy and did anything outside of it, there would be repercussions.' The castes coexisted peacefully when boundaries were respected, especially for upper castes. Upper castes often don't mind permeating other castes but resist others rising. Devaraya is a Brahmin, but another Brahmin character, the temple priest, holds rigid notions and cannot tolerate intrusion. In one instance, a nine-year-old girl and her dog unwittingly breach sacred elements, leading to severe repercussions. The author imagined these stories but drew from her intimate work with village people, witnessing exploitation and injustice that are often normalized.
Research Process
The author did very little research, relying on intimate knowledge and imagination. 'If you know something intimately, then you sit back and let your imagination work. That means you let yourself go into those houses and you sit with your characters.' The tragic idea for Devaraya came in a flash. While the book is not historical, history and caste remain central. The author ensures historical accuracy for dates and events after writing. She noted that the south has been ignored in fiction; most known leaders come from northern and western states. She read about figures like Periyar Ramaswamy Iyer and learned that many ordinary southerners gave up college and jobs to join the freedom movement, with many killed or imprisoned.
Personal Memories and Father's Influence
The author's father was in politics and joined the freedom movement at a young age, going to prison. Although she wasn't born then, she heard him talk about punishments, food, and how leaders like Rajagopalachari, Kamaraj, and Nehru taught classes in prison. 'They taught them economics, history, science. Those people took it upon themselves because they knew these young people had dropped out of college or left their jobs to join the struggle.' Her father considered that the best education, and she used these realities in the book.
Fiction as a Repository of History
Fiction serves as a repository of historical details, lived memories, and testimonies. At a reading in Bengaluru, many elderly attendees told the author how much they remembered and loved the book for bringing back memories.
Switching Between Male and Female Voices
The author spends a lot of time with characters, giving them space and becoming a 'fly on the wall'. This allows her to naturally understand what each character would do in a situation, without foisting her own ideas. She emphasized the importance of dealing with gender beyond one's own, as understanding the opposite gender helps understand oneself. 'I feel there is a certain level of asexuality maybe that you have to bring into the writing at the same time conscious of gender and its implications.'
Title Selection: 'Rising Sons'
The author did not discuss other titles. Some felt the story was about men, but she explained that the story demands what it demands. 'Rising Sons' is generational, featuring Devaraya, his two sons, and friends. Rising was the domain of men during those years; women held the fort but often stepped into other work. Understanding men helps understand what women go through.
