Article in DNA

“ ... magical depiction of Bombay ... Any child—or adult—who loves the city will love the book!” Sayoni Basu, Director Publishing, Scholastic India


Article in Yuva

Vivek Tandon,
profile

Vivek Tandon has published a book of poems, Climbing the Spiral. He’s written a play which was selected for Royal Court Theatre London’s prestigious International Residency Programme, and has also acted on the Mumbai stage. He is at present working as a creative consultant in advertising in Mumbai.

His funny poetry will soon appear in a forthcoming Sahitya Akademi book of children’s verse.

He is rehearsing for the play 'Karna' written by Ranjit Hoskote and directed by Avan Patel. A modern rendition from Bhasa's sanskrit play 'Karna-Bharam', it will be staged in January in Mumbai.

Author's statement about
'A Blind Man's Map of Mumbai':

I started writing a story about ‘Bombay’ when I first arrived in the city, long ago. It was more a series of descriptions than a story. It was a way of discovering this exciting city, by recreating it. I enjoyed researching different areas, drinking in their ambience and taking notes. And I enjoyed coming back home and recreating the experience on paper, with strokes of the pen.

I did this for some time, then set the writing aside and forgot about it.

Many years later I rediscovered my recreated city. And I thought: what a wonderful stage this is for adventure and mystery!

I chased through the streets of my recreated ‘Mumbai’ in search of adventure, and found the most unexpected twists and turns. I again enjoyed the research: but this time I dug deeper, into Mumbai’s past, and the human dramas that lay past the roar of traffic, the hush of the sea, and the glitter of modernity.

The result was 'A Blind Man’s Map of Mumbai'.