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I have a Ved Mehta story.
Until 2014, I only knew Ved by reputation: the famed New Yorker writer who couldn't see, the tireless memoirist, a renowned grouch. That year, @DalrympleWill asked me to be in conversation with him at the Jaipur Lit Fest... [1] https://www.newyorker.com/culture/postscript/ved-mehta-1934-2021
Until 2014, I only knew Ved by reputation: the famed New Yorker writer who couldn't see, the tireless memoirist, a renowned grouch. That year, @DalrympleWill asked me to be in conversation with him at the Jaipur Lit Fest... [1] https://www.newyorker.com/culture/postscript/ved-mehta-1934-2021
Before JLF, @Chikisarkar threw Ved a dinner at her house. Come meet him, she told me. I thought this was a fine idea. If I got to know him, maybe he wouldn't snap at me on stage.
Chiki introduced me. "Ved, this is Samanth Subramanian. You'll be speaking to him at Jaipur." [2]
Chiki introduced me. "Ved, this is Samanth Subramanian. You'll be speaking to him at Jaipur." [2]
He was very charming and solicitous, and we talked about his book and (for some reason) about US astronauts. @JaipurLitFest came around a week later, and the session went beautifully too. He was patient and warm, absolutely contrary to his image. [3]
After the session, I went over to his chair to shake his hand and thank him. He thanked me too, then said: "You know a lot about India for a Romanian." [4]
We didn't get a chance to talk more. I was absolutely stumped.
Only later did I realise he'd heard Chiki's introduction as "This is Samanth the Romanian." Perhaps he'd been patient & forbearing only because he didn't want to bear down on some unsuspecting guy from Bucharest. [5]
Only later did I realise he'd heard Chiki's introduction as "This is Samanth the Romanian." Perhaps he'd been patient & forbearing only because he didn't want to bear down on some unsuspecting guy from Bucharest. [5]
[Or perhaps not. Reputations are tricky and misleading things, and maybe he wasn't as much of a grouch as he was made out to be, or maybe his grouchiness had melted away over the years.
Regardless. Rest in peace, Ved.]
[end]
Regardless. Rest in peace, Ved.]
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