Indian novelist and short story writer, Benyamin, whose novel Goat Days was shortlisted for the DSC Prize in 2013, was one of the many speakers at the KLF. With almost 15 books to his credit, Benyamin has written extensively on a variety of issues, including the experiences of migrant labour in the Gulf states. Originally written in his native Malayalam, many of his works have been translated into other languages. Benyamin sat down with Books&Authors to talk about his need to tell stories that are close to him, and his evolution as a writer.

Why do you think there is such dearth of fiction around migrant labour in the Gulf, given that such large numbers of people from the subcontinent go there to work; that it is a common experience of so many people and communities?

I am from Kerela and I know that millions of people have travelled to the Gulf states for employment. Some have come back, and yet no one has talked about what the reality is and what type of life they are living there. As a writer I decided to go myself and experience firsthand the reality of life there. I needed to do so to portray what happens there. I am not saying every person goes through such an experience, but there are some realities that need to be told.

Of all your work, why do you think Goat Days struck a particular chord with the readers?

Firstly, it is an unknown story that hadn’t been told. Secondly, it is related to a person who has actually worked in such conditions. His story bears resemblance to the lives of millions. It is a story of anticipation, of struggle, and survival. So it is for everyone; not just for a person who has lived in the Gulf and worked there but for anyone who has and is struggling in the world.

And why do you think Goat Days has been selected as part of the curriculum?

The main reason I feel is that stories from this part of the world were unavailable and so were stories about the realities of the diaspora. Children must know about the struggle people undergo for their families.

How does the reception of your work differ in different languages? Do you feel the response is different, given the language people are reading your work in?

In my own language, Malayalam, the 100th edition of Goat Days is set to be published. From the poor working class to the well educated, many layers of people read books. While certain books may be read by specific classes, reading is rampant where I come from. Even those who don’t like literature or fiction read books.

The English translation was well-received as well. It went on to be shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature in 2013. The book was reviewed by many magazines. One magazine even shortlisted Goat Days as among the 10 books to read about the Gulf. After the book was translated into Arabic, many reviews by Arabs acknowledged the realities mentioned in the book. They do not deny them.

Do you have any say in the translation process of your books?

I don’t, because I believe it is the freedom of the translator to decide what and how to translate. I did, however, give a suggestion to not change the Arabic words used in the book. I was confident the readers would be able to gauge the meaning. Joseph Koippally [the translator] did a great job, but never will a piece of translation be just like the original.

What made you start writing?

I went to the Gulf as a worker and then later became an engineer. It was much later, in my late 20s, that I started to write. Before I started my writing, for a good six to seven years, I just read. From classic books to trash, I read anything I got my hands on. Slowly I realised that I too have some stories to tell. I started with short stories and then moved on to novels.

I don’t write with an audience in mind. If I have a story to tell, I just narrate it. I never imagined the audience before, but with so many translations of my work, I have now realised there is a wider audience reading my work. So this may affect how I write my later works.

Can you share your writing process?

As soon as I get an idea about what I want to write, I start my research. I use the computer for my writing as it is easier to make revisions and additions. While writing a novel, I never progress from the beginning to the end. I write different chapters and connect them together at the end. It takes around two to three years for me to complete a novel.

What is next for you?

Recently my novel about the Arab Spring has been published, Al-Arabian Novel Factory. It has a dual narrative: one is by an Indian journalist and the other is by a Pakistani girl living in the Gulf. Penguin Books has already taken up the task of translating it.I am working on a novel based in India, but the idea behind it is still evolving.

Is this your first trip to Pakistan? How does it add up to its image internationally?

I had heard so many misconceptions about Karachi especially, and how it is supposed to be very dangerous. However, I felt that it’s a very natural city that suffers from the same problems that other cities around the world suffer from. I feel very happy to be here.

I come from South India and on arriving in Karachi I felt it to be very similar to North Indian cities. Also, as I have had a lot of interaction with Pakistanis in the Gulf, I feel that I have a strong relationship with Pakistan.