................................................................................................Interview

 Manil Suri 

Mathematical entice with fiction
Though mathematics may be prosaic, Manil Suri prefers flights of fictional fancy. With time to spare after trying to make complex arithmeticcalculations simple for his classroom students, the professor of applied mathematics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, engrosses himself in writing the manuscript of his second novel 'The Life of Shiva' . Manil has already proved his expertise in penning down complex characters in his own simple way, with his much acclaimed book, 'The Death of Vishnu', first of the trilogy - the saver (Vishnu), destroyer(Shiva) and the creator (Brahma). Irrespective of the name and fame that he has received in the literary world, he enjoys the role of a mathematician, who is capable of taking you into the world of applied mathematics, talking about his research on finite elements in layperson's terms.

Mumbaibest approached the mathematician cum novelist, during his recent visit to Mumbai, and explored how the two contrasting disciplines of mathematics and creative writing intersect with each other.

Mathematics is a field which most people detest and you are doing research in this field. Was pursuing a career in math a well thought out option ?

I always wanted to do something different in science stream and I was sure of doing research without really knowing what it is. One of my professors, at Indian Institute of Science Bombay, teaching us abstract algebra discovered the knack in me towards mathematics. Mathematics is a subject where one has to put that extra effort, without choice and I was ready for it. Later I went to the States for advanced studies. Then I joined the faculty of University of Maryland in 1983 and that is the only job I ever had. I wont say that it was a well thought out option but definitely the right choice.

Your first love was pure mathematics and today you are associated with applied mathematics. Is it the trend flow towards applied mathematics that compelled you to take change the subject ?

Yes, in reality due to pure mathematics I took up this career, but interms of getting a job and your work being ultimately used, applied mathematics comes handy. As you can work with engineers, and your results naturally find applications. You find a place and commercial programs that gives you an extra dimension.

I don't think that most of the people go for applied. Going by statistics almost two third of the mathematicians are from pure and until recently, before the advent of computerisation, applied mathematics was a subset of pure math. Gradually requirement of mathematicians in different disciplines increased and hence more of applied mathematicians leading to slight increase in the ratio. Considering the rate of technical developments in developed countries like US, not many of the engineers solicit mathematicians, due to which projects involving huge grants fall flat.

A mathematician and now a creative writer, two contrasting roles. How the writer in you evolved ?

I think different parts of yourself immerse in different areas. In the beginning writing was an escape route from the routine research books and faculty meetings. Unlike other mathematicians I couldn't read research papers for relaxation and during those hours I was busy in giving shades to all the fictitious characters. And gradually the characters became more serious and meaningful. I began to concentrate on my writing only in the year 1994. Later it became an intellectual challenge to make all these characters sit together and work on the plot to create a common zone.

What is the creative process involve in proving theorems and how is it similar to developing fictional characters ?

In both the processes you require a base which you believe and then work on it. Like engineers have to believe in the results that they want to come up with. And in case of developing a fictitious character and to allow the sequence to move around it, first you have to believe in the existence of the character. We mathematicians start with some axioms and assumption which help us to reach conclusions. That is where fiction, faith and at the finite elements come into existence.

The Death of Vishnu was your first claim to fame, in the literary world. How did you feel when things actually started working outside the four walls of your classroom ?

It was just last year that I realised that the book was really going to happen. I landed in Bombay immediately after giving final touches to the manuscript. And that day onward it has been a roller coaster ride for me. Things gained momentum, the book was sold in many countries with as many as 17 translations. Above all getting good reviews for your first book was a wonderful experience. Then I had lots of reading sessions in Delhi and Bombay. The best part of all is that I was in Bombay with my parents to share those moments of joy.

How different is Manil Suri, the mathematician from the novelist ?

How I wish to change the stereotype serious image of a mathematician, but cannot do so as it is true to some extent. Even my students who were present during my readings at Baltimore were surprised to discover that their serious professor is capable of cracking jokes. It was an eye-opener for them after I read out few passages from my literary work. I guess everyone has different shades to their character which are revealed at various stages of our life. Now I am also learning the stereotypes in writing too.

After The Death ........, what next ?

My next novel is called The Life of Shiva. '.....Vishnu' was a religious composition of India. The style adopted was more to embark the reader to experience how is it to live in india, where different religious, social and cultural things hit you from different sides. Even the second one is also on Gods name but it really has nothing to do with God. '..... Vishnu', had some elements of the real Vishnu, but this one is just taking Shiva's name and have nothing to do with religion. It would come with a different approach and impact. I am also planning to complete the trilogy series by writing on Brahma

By: Sharmistha Chakraborty