Five Questions For: Author Jamil Ahmad

Fauzia Minallah Jamil Ahmad.

Jamil Ahmad is the author of “The Wandering Falcon,” a novel that delves into the lives of the tribal population living in the border region of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. This is the debut novel of the former Pakistani bureaucrat, now in his 80s. He has spent more than 20 years in the Balochistan and Frontier provinces in Pakistan during his service.

The novel was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2011 and was also a finalist for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature this year.

India Ink interviewed Mr. Ahmad during the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Q.

Why does the Jaipur Literature Festival matter to you

A.

When I got the invite, there was a feeling that I should make it. My family was very involved, and they felt that I should be here.

Q.

What are the occupational hazards of being a writer

A.

I don’t think there are any.

Q.

What is your writing ritual

A.

I had time on my hands. I wrote in longhand, and my wife typed it with a manual typewriter, which was a German make.

The manuscript took 40 years to publish. I started writing in 1971, finished in ’73.

The Atlantic wanted to publish a short story. One British publisher said, “Change it to nonfiction.” Another British publisher said, “Change it to the modern idiom.” Tribes don’t speak English! The tribes had their own language. Their entire language has changed now.

Then I lost track. It was sheer luck that Penguin India published my work.

Q.

Ho! w do you deal with critics

A.

I am not disturbed by them. I reread them. Good reviews sometimes puff you up. Some reviews in India have been far too complimentary. It is ironic that of the negative reviews, the majority came from Pakistan.

Q.

Why should we read “The Wandering Falcon”

A.

People should buy it if they find the cover attractive when they see it in a bookstore. It is a short book, about 200 pages. It is an easy read.

I want people to understand that tribes are not savage. Left to themselves, the tribes will adjust to changes in the periphery. There should not be attempts to socially engineer them.

(The interview has been lightly edited and condensed.)