In Conversation with Anandam Kavoori, Author, Children of Shahida
By Judi (Simran) Silva

Children of Shahida is author Anandam Kavoori's debut novel, which traces three generations of the Solomons. The multicultural coming-of-age story follows this Christian family with a Muslim name from India to the United States. Told in three parts, through the eyes of grandfather Rashid, father Bashir and son Tyab, this brilliantly penned narrative weaves the experiences of daily life and transformations among the emotional and intimate issues of immigration and cultural differences.

Termed original, intriguing and compelling, Children of Shahida has made its mark as a captivating first novel for Kavoori. Take a walk with the author, who is both humble and humorous, through his personal life and learn how it played a vital role in the writing of his first novel.

Where are you from and how has this influenced your writing?

I was born and raised in the cities of Baroda and New Delhi, India. I have lived in Boston, Washington D.C. and for the last fifteen years in Athens, Georgia. My life in India was in a multicultural, multilingual setting, which has influenced my writing in important ways.

Raised in a family with different religious influences - Christian, Muslim and Hindu, this was a story that I wanted to tell. My first novel was an attempt to come to terms with this uncommon history. My life in the United States has been one common to many immigrants - dislocation, alienation and the constant engagement with issues of identity.

When did your passion for writing begin?

I have always been in love with the idea of writing and being a writer. It was good to actually write, and find both pleasure and purpose in it. It is a wonderful addiction to have. I write everyday, and that makes my experience of each day complete. When I
do not write, there is an incomplete feeling to that day. It is as if I did not quite live that day.

How is it that you decided to write Children of Shahida?

My first novel was like most first novels, is an exploration of personal history, social circumstances and life-space. It was also an attempt at coming to terms with writing, hitching my unconscious to my arm and seeing what happens. It was also a fulfillment of a commitment, to say something that has not been addressed in this deeply fractured time between Muslims and Christians. These two religions share a great deal, and the story of the characters in Shahida's family is a testament to that.

Besides being an author, you are also an Associate Professor in Grady College at the University of Georgia and journalist/consultant for several corporations including CNN International and the Discovery Channel. How do you balance all these demands along with your family life as a husband and father?

I do not. I just manage to get everything done somehow!

What are your favorite and least favorite components of writing?

I love the possibility of the imagination, of not knowing where a sentence or idea will lead. Writing has its own logic and magic.

I hate the blank page on my computer with the irritating blink of the cursor telling me to get going!

What advice would you impart to aspiring writers?

I consider myself an aspiring writer, so no advice there!

What challenges or obstacles do you encounter while writing? How did you overcome these challenges?

The challenge is to begin anew every day. There is loneliness to writing and few people understand what it takes to do it. Critics have the best jobs!

Are there any other books, articles, short stories or poems that you have in print?

Yes. I have a book of poems focused on war and journalism entitled A Road-Map for America: Poems. One of my poems from this collection (The Moment of Impact) was published on MIT's webpage for the tragic events of 9/11. (http://web.mit.edu/cms/reconstructions/expressions/akpoem.html)
I have a short story, Savitri published in the literary magazine, Suitcase (volume 3).

What message do you want people to come away with after reading Children of Shahida?
That the world is a small yet incredibly complex place, that what connects us, often divides us as well. That immigration is central to the American experience - something often forgotten in these days of debate about immigration.

What is next for you?
There is an academic book on media globalization and then a novel, if life allows it.

Thank you for allowing Lokvani to conduct this interview with you. We wish you all the success with Children of Shahida.
Thank you for this opportunity to impart my thoughts on the novel. It is greatly appreciated.


You can purchase Children of Shahida via the publisher's Website. Here is the link:

http://www.shermanasher.com/Children.html

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