Not so long after #ASuitableBoy came out I first met #VikramSeth autographing copies at #Blackwells at #Oxford. When my turn came he asked where I was from. I told him. He warmed up - he was already fairly jovial with those present - & told me how he learnt Urdu for the novel 1/

that he loved Urdu poetry & wished to visit Pakistan. He wrote a couple of sentences in Urdu on my copy. Turned out he was an alumnus of #corpuschristi which I was attending & which had recently made him Honorary Fellow. I asked him for an interview which he very graciously 2/

agreed to. A few days later we sat in the heavenly back lawn of our College. Libas Magazine carried it in the summer of ‘94. I met him a few times thereafter as well - we invited him over for a reading & he invited me back for formal hall. A few times he hung out in the 3/

College basement - The Pit - & regaled everyone with his stories. Witty, courteous, articulate, modest & friendly, he got along splendidly with all present. Ever ready for humor he once transcribed a copy of ASB for my romantic interest at the time with something to the 4/

effect that I easily passed the test of suitability. Not to forget he also subtly let me know that I may excel more at the law than at writing poetry. He visited Oxford frequently for some time. On occasion we heard him playing the piano - very well I might add - in #Merton 5/

cathedral & at other times came across him working furiously away in Corpus library. I guess #AnEqualMusic was in the works. After the interview we went for a walk to #ChristChurchMeadows. His knowledge of trees was impressive - a yellow Ginko leaf could inspire a narration 6/

on trees in ancient Chinese poetry. As we entered one college a pompous porter was reluctant to let him in. I explained that he was an alumnus & a fellow & he backed off. All through, he quietly, almost meekly, stood in a corner. I was very glad that the writer left the same 7/

impression on me as his magnum opus - that of a soul of great sensitivity, reflection & aesthetics. Let me anticipate your question. Yes he is very much Kabir as far as I could tell. The rest of the suitors are figments of his imagination. #southasianfiction #writers #fiction 8/8

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