Khushwant Singh's first novel in five years, Burial at Sea, revisits territory he has covered in his earlier writings. Only this time it is fictionalized, though the camouflage may be very scanty.

Suman Tarafdar catches up with the almost nonagenarian author who still has not lost the desire to take on the forces of obscurantism that he sees as plaguing Indian society today.

Burial at Sea covers a lot of already covered ground. What made you write this novel?
For the past few years now, my passion has been to oppose obscurantism that has increasingly come to dominate Indian society. That's what I set out write, in the form of short stories. However, it kept getting longer and my publishers suggested turning it into a novella.

But this novel has little do to with obscurantism.
Well, it shows what happens to people who fall prey to obscurantist practices, even if they do not believe in it themselves.

Today there is so much belief in horoscopy, astrology, numerology, vaastu and other such rubbish. Victor was a liberal, a rationalist. Yet he fell for a woman who would not marry him as she says "For one you are a Brahmin, I a Kshatriya.' In this day and age, to be taken in by such statements by a liberal…

There are many instances of her belief in hocus-focus. Her beliefs are typical of those of an uneducated, backward looking person. And Victor is unable to overlook these in his infatuation for her. Something that many of today's so-called modern people end up doing.

The main character, Victor Jai Bhagwan is very close to Nehru.
It is patterned on Nehru. The book was planned as long novel, but instead became a tale of characters.

You are one of staunchest voices against fascism in India today. Then why write a novel like this, which only further vitiates the atmosphere against Nehru, perhaps the greatest of the liberals?
Nehru was one of the greatest liberals. I have enormous respect for Nehru. There is nothing negative against him in this book. His faults, if they were that, are being seen or interpreted in a wrong way. He was a 100 per cent modern man caught in a backward society. Like Victor, he was seen as an outsider who wanted to do good. His legacy of liberalism and secularism is what has made India have a greater degree of peace and stability than other Third World countries.

In a book, however, the character overtakes and gives shape to the narrative. As it happened in this case, where Victor's tale overtook whatever intentions I may have started out with.

How fair is it for an author to interpret a historical figure in a way he or she may choose to?
It is up to the writer. When I was writing about Victor and Durgeshwari, these are parts that I had to completely make up as there was not information available. Nehru's former secretary, MO Mathai is the only one who has mentioned about a certain god woman whom Nehru was associated with. His other biographers have not even mentioned her. So I have to use my imagination to reconstruct the scenes. An author has the right to construct as he sees fit to take the story ahead.

Is this move towards obscurantism a global phenomenon or one that affects Indians particularly?
Well, there are other societies that are affected. However, India seems to be particularly badly affected. The growth in education seems to find no corresponding growth in liberal attitudes and values. We seem to be relying more and more on superstitions and irrational beliefs. It takes ugly forms in India. Intolerance is not something to be proud of, but we seem to be reveling in it. Bhindrawale was an example of the typical form of religious bigotry. Banning books, burning cinema theatres for showing certain films, attacking libraries, launching vicious personal attacks are all forms of fascism. We've become a fascist society.

These fascist and obscurantist tendencies seem to affect India more than ever in independent India's history. Has the liberal voice lost out?
Yes, India's secular fabric is threatened as never before. Somewhere the shortcoming seems to be with us, some obsession that makes one question the general acceptance by Indians.

You worked on a number of novels now. Which has been the most satisfactory?
Delhi. It covered a subject close to my heart. It was the best researched, covered a long span of time. Even in that book I had to fill in a lot of gaps from my imagination was there was little documentation for many phases.

So when we get to see you collection of short stories?
Well, it is almost done and will be out after a decent interval. The focus is far more strongly on fascist and obscurantist tendencies plaguing Indian society.