Literature is a rather complex artform as it both reflects and simultaneously creates the social circumstances it is born in. With our current scenario of uncertain and challenging times, literature plays an important role in both helping the society survive it and also in reflecting it for the posterity.
Mita Kapur is certainly one of the most eminent names associated with literature in India. The founder and CEO of Siyahi, India’s leading literary consultancy, and now the Literary Director of The JCB Prize for Literature, she is a force to be reckoned with. We recently got in touch with her to speak about literature in the time of quarantine and beyond.
Post the pandemic, what will be the new normal for you?
Since the Siyahi office is part of my home, my work routine has continued with me and my team clocking in the same hours, probably even more. Professionally, obviously I see a lot of re-engineering and shifting gears so as to deal with the anticipated challenges.
During your work as a literary agent over the years, which book or books have intrigued you the most?
That's a tough one - editorial trends, market demands, in India and internationally, the kind of content that reaches us, it is a fluid situation and as an agent I like going with the flow.
How do you curate your selection of books to support or agent? What do you look for in a book and/or author?
I have to love the writing. It has to grip me and I also have to be able to imagine it sitting on a reader's book shelf, in a book store. I do like to work with a broad spectrum of focus areas. At Siyahi we have handled sub-genres under fiction, commercial and literary, narrative non-fiction that covers a huge range of books, broadly speaking. This obviously includes biographies, autobiographies, mythology, military history, natural history, memoirs, travel writing, film writing, self help, fitness, wild life, et cetera. Under fiction we have done thrillers, crime, romance, historical fiction, graphic novels, speculative fiction etc. We are also working hectically on film/web series adaptations for our authors' books. We work equally attentively on selling international rights for our books in US, UK, Europe and other regions. Our focus is also to get our authors' books translated into as many Indian regional languages as possible.
Do you think the role of literature in our society will or should change vis-a-vis the world’s current situation? If yes then how? How do you think the current situation will affect the publishing industry?
Literature has always played an essential role in our lives and with the pandemic, the role becomes even more significant. It will be fascinating to watch how the narrative changes the world over. The publishing industry tries to mirror the real world and it will be watching out for fresh conversations and insights into the new normal.
How is The JCB Prize for Literature helping to keep the reading community engaged during this time? How do you think the current scenario will impact the Prize?
The JCB Prize has collaborated with Kindle India to offer all the books on the shortlist from the past two years at a 40-70% discount. The authors of the shortlisted books from the past two years are also holding live sessions on the JCB Instagram handle under the Catch Up Series. Its all about quick re-adjustments and the JCB Prize is carrying on its work in the right spirit, being sensitive and responsive to the times we are in.