Alok Mishra: Congratulations, Madhav, on your book. Let me tell you that it’s a fine book, indeed. It’s your second published novel and first in English. How do you see this achievement?
Madhav Mahidhar: Thanks for the compliment. I don’t see this as an achievement rather I see this as a journey. I am interested in futurology/future studies. I would like to be known as a Futurist rather than a Novelist.
Alok Mishra: ‘The extreme wave of feminism’ should I say? How did you give this feminist twist to the book?
Madhav Mahidhar: ‘Blood in the paradise’ is the story of how a woman reacts to a depressing and shocking situation. The novel is about resistance, fight for existence and survival. Yes, the novel deals with strong feminist concepts but I don’t think I have depicted extreme feminism.
Alok Mishra: Did you read so much of detective fiction? From where did you get the idea to write such an interesting book?
Madhav Mahidhar: I don’t read too much of fiction. I generate the original ideas. Usually, I try to generate the ideas from real life incidents. Reading novels usually don’t give us any new/original ideas because they are consumed ideas. I have been influenced immensely by the writing styles of Sidney Sheldon and Michael Crichton.
‘Blood in the Paradise’ idea came to my mind in Pune. I wrote more than 70 percent of the novel in Johannesburg, South Africa (first 20 chapters) and the remaining in Bangalore.
Alok Mishra: According to you, who is the real protagonist of the novel as well the proper antagonist too?
Madhav Mahidhar: Anupriya is the real protagonist and Vikas is the antagonist.
Alok Mishra: Basically, the story revolves around a marriage which becomes grim with the passage of time. The husband in your story is just not that worthy. What do you have to say on the real life marriages which fall and fail within 2-3 years?
Madhav Mahidhar: Marriage is a journey with a companion, friend and soulmate. If we don’t understand this principle any marriage will be in trouble and has greater chance of failure.
Alok Mishra: Well, Madhav, your book is a very interesting read for the young readers as well as those who love the detective and thriller fiction. I would like you to tell the readers what makes your book interesting.
Madhav Mahidhar: The novel is actually a puzzle and it would appeal to all crime and mystery lovers. Be it the unfolding of crime, legal proceedings and police investigation, the novel is as realistic as possible. The novel deals with crime, science, law, police investigation, human relationships and feminism.
The crime which I portrayed in the novel is an abstract/ambiguous crime.
If the crime were to happen in the same way which I depicted in the novel, in all likelihood it could not be proved legally anywhere in the world.
Alok Mishra: Your comments on the chapters 16 and 17. How did you get the detailed information on how the police interrogation takes place in India?
Madhav Mahidhar: I studied psychology of how police try to talk with criminals and how they try to corner criminals with difficult questions. I have not done any extra research on police investigation.
For this novel, I also did some research on poisons, medical treatment and Indian law.
Alok Mishra: A personal question – which are (or who is) your favourite authors in contemporary literature and why?
Madhav Mahidhar: As I said before, I have been influenced immensely by the writing styles of Sidney Sheldon and Michael Crichton. I like Sidney Sheldon for his simple, swift and clear writing. On the other hand, I like Michael Crichton for his excellent choice of diverse science subjects.
I am not reading too much of fiction for the past five years. I think a lot. I read and think about future technologies, future advancements in different fields and how they impact mankind in the near future.
I am deviating from the question but the next paragraph will give the readers a glimpse of my thinking pattern.
Starting from 2020, the next hundred years will be the most critical century for mankind to endure, progress and evolve. Mankind will be answering many questions and challenges like food crisis, water crisis, energy crisis, persisting along with Artificial Intelligence and robots, Quantum and DNA computing, 3D printing, loss of jobs, religious conflicts, world wars, confronting deadly viruses, artificial gene synthesis, space travel and colonies, possible interaction and coexistence with aliens, enhanced human intelligence and fighting nature furies.
Each challenge I mentioned has the ability to destroy the entire human race. So in 2120. if the human population is 7 billion or even 5 billion and if they live peacefully with good health then I would say that mankind has succeeded in most of the above challenges.
Alok Mishra: Back to the book, Madhav, your DCP Vishwaroop is an honest, brave and worthy office. Did you model him on some real life character that you personally know? He seems so real and comes out of the book when you read.
Bharath Krishna: To an extent Vishwaroop’s character was influenced by H T Sangliana. He is the former commissioner of Bangalore and a former MP. I don’t know him personally.
Alok Mishra: At last, many thanks Madhav, for your time. I wish you best of luck for the future endeavours.
Madhav Mahidhar: Thank you! My best wishes to Ashvamegh team.
