"It takes place probably 600 years ago, but the characters in the novel are the ones you see on a daily basis – they are highly relatable" ❤️❤️❤️

“I Found Out that Literature was My Home”

An exciting, freewheeling discussion with Mr. Insoll, II BA English

On Books & Reading

12th September 2025

This week (Tuesday, 9th September) in my II BA English Literature class, I had given the students a challenge - 

How many of you in class can list out 20 books that you’ve read in the past one year? (Apart from the prescribed books that are part of your syllabus) 😊

The question found quite a few takers from the audience, and I was quite happy about it as well.

However, there was one student who personally met with me after class, with an entire list of books that he had read in the last one year, written down in his note book, with the month and year of reading them.

The list had more than 20 books with the month and year neatly mentioned against each book. I was so happy to read through the entire list.

Then I asked him if we could meet up in my office for a freewheeling discussion on his tryst with reading, this Friday, 12th September at 10.20 am. (today). He gladly agreed. And today I was so delighted to see him turn up at our Office on time.  

We then started spontaneously on our freewheeling discussion.

Meet Mr. Insoll, from II BA English, ladies and gentlemen.

Well, Insoll, I’m so happy to see a passionate reader in you. Who, pray, inspired you to become such a passionate reader?

My dad is a very avid reader. In his spare time, he used to have this habit of reading books a lot. I guess I take after him on that. I’ve been reading since age five.

I was really into literature from a very young age. In my higher secondary days, when I was given the task of choosing my career, I contemplated on a host of options, including JEE, but then found out that literature was my home.

I feel very close to this course at a spiritual level. At the same time, by my ninth grade, I had started watching world cinema, and I found that, literature kind of compliments films as well.

Initially I was just consuming these scripts, but from my eleventh grade I started to critically evaluate films, like ‘Why is this scene here?’ etc.

Thus, I was able to develop my own way of analysing films, and that really helped me in writing my scripts as well.

So you are into script writing as well?

Yes. I’ve been writing scripts on a daily basis. I keep working on the script again and again.

Interesting. How long have you been writing these scripts?

Almost for a year now, sir. Since in my school days I couldn’t do much because of my studies. College life kind of complimented my time well.

The script writing you do – is it for short films or movies?

Well, I wish to do that later maybe. And I wish to show them to producers. But now I have written a script for a short film. We were almost about to begin the shoot this March, but then it was held up. But right now I am trying to better this short film script.

I am taking a complicated way of writing a film script. It has got multiple layers to it. It’s really an exciting experience.

The writing process for me begins with a 40-page summary, then I try writing the scenes. I then bridge the scenes, experimenting with the linearity, transposing scenes at places. That way, the idea per se is complete. I like reading Tamil literature a lot.

What made you interested in Tamil literature?

Dad was very particular that I do my education in Tamil medium up until my eighth grade, to have an immersive experience in the language. Then in my ninth grade when I felt I was confident with my Tamil language skills, I turned to English medium from my ninth grade.

However, in my fifth grade, I took a basic course in English skills with British Council.

So it was a well-meaning strategy on the part of your dad to give you a cultural grounding in Tamil.

Yes, not only that! There’s this strangeness you find in English. Obviously we can master it. But it feels very accessible if it is in Tamil.

So how many writers have you read in Tamil literature?

I have read Puthumaipithan, Ashokamitran, B. Jeyamohan, Sundara Ramaswamy, Ku. Alagirisami,  Ki. Rajanarayanan, Vanna Nilavan, G. Nagarajan…

If you’ve read Ki Ra then you must have read Es Ra also…

I haven’t started on Es Ra. I’ve read Charu Nivedita…

So who’s your favourite among them?

Obviously B. Jeyamohan!

Great! So happy to note that, his daughter did her UG in English here in MCC. She was one of our best students. What makes you choose Jeyamohan?

Well, writers generally have specific boundaries to themselves. They only operate on a specific region or on a specific subject. But Jeyamohan is like – if you tell me a particular story line, he would have already written on it. He doesn’t set a limit. 

He has the range. He has also written such voluminous works. Sundara Ramasamy is also a great writer. But he has written only three novels in his lifetime, whereas Jeyamohan has written a 26-volume, modern Tamil retelling of the Mahabharata titled Venmurasu (The White Drum) which is a great achievement, and to top that, he has also written the voluminous and critically acclaimed Vishnupuram which explores Indian philosophy, mythology, and history through a fantasy narrative.

Have you read his Kaadu?

Yes I’ve read Kaadu, and I am reading it again now. I read it first time when I was in my first year. I recently went to Idukki. It was a beautiful forest, and so I tried reading it there. And the experience was quite different there.

As regards Jeyamohan, his range is immense. Added, I feel that, he is very close to heart. His words directly touch the heart. I don’t have to intellectualise him in order to understand him.

Any examples that you can cite from any of his novels?

Well, there is Vishnupuram where you find almost three books packed in a single word. Vishnupuram is a very imaginary world. When writers create imaginary worlds, there are very few writers who make you not feel that alienation or strangeness – who have the capability to present the world to you as you have seen that before in your life – in some point of time. Jeyamohan creates this world.

It takes place probably 600 years ago, but the characters in the novel are the ones you see on a daily basis – they are highly relatable. All their suffering, and their ideals, have not changed even now, even after 600 years. This understanding of history – of how people have changed the way they live, but their ideals haven’t changed. That’s why it is close to my heart, because I can feel it rather than just observe it as mere information. In short, I can feel his works.

How often do you read?

I read on a daily basis. At times, I start at 7 pm and it goes on till sometimes late into the night. However, as I said earlier, the book decides the pacing. 

When I don’t read for a week or something, it is very hard for me to get back into reading mode again. The focus and the concentration is not there. I again have to struggle to build that practice.

What book have you been reading lately?

I just finished re-reading Kaadu. Now I’ve started reading this postmodern novel titled, V. by Thomas Pynchon, an American novelist. He is yet another writer I love reading.

Do you buy hard copies of the books or do you read them on your digital screens?

I buy books! I don’t like reading them on my digital device. I’m more of the old school person, who buys a book and reads it.

That’s interesting. Where do you buy these books from?

Mostly from Amazon. Jeyamohan has his own website, from which I can order copies. I also go to these annual book exhibitions and so I dedicate a large amount of my budget for books. I buy a lot of books in such book exhibitions to read throughout the year.

Apart from Pynchon, Kerouac is my favourite. Allen Ginsberg is also my favourite. I also like Hemingway.

What makes you like Hemingway?

I like his simplicity. I feel like you can just pick a Hemingway book any day without having to emotionally prepare yourself for it. You just pick it up and start reading. The diction is quite easy.

So do you have a regular routine for reading? And do you get encouragement from home?

Yes, I have a regular routine for my reading. And yes, my parents have been encouraging me in reading ever since the age of five. I stopped watching TV at a very young age, except for TV Shows.

How many books do you read a month?

Probably two or three books per month. I save up for buying the books. I also do part-time work. I write scripts for people. I also edit books. I get paid for that as well. Crime and Punishment is one book that took me a lot of time to read. In fact, I didn’t want the book to end...

What made you love Crime and Punishment?

Well, Tamil novels mostly foreground the Tamil Nadu landscape. I love the Petersburg landscape. I also felt at home there. Very strange it might seem though, but I didn’t want to escape that landscape. I kind of want to live inside that book for long.

So happy talking to you, Insoll. And your name is so beautiful. It strikes a chord. It means ‘beautiful word’, right?

It means ‘sweet word’.

Your parents’ choice?

No. It was my grandfather’s choice.

So you’re into reading, writing, and you also find time to do balance your priorities with a part-time job, and at the same time you are able to attend your classes also… Best wishes for you, Insoll. May all your dreams come true.

Thank you sir.

Our rewarding time of discussion was followed by a photograph, taken by Ms. Anarsha, Intern with Office of International Programmes.

We are so proud of you dear Insoll. Keep shining. Blessings.