“India is a curious place that still preserves the past, religions, and...” — Anita Desai Quote

“India is a curious place that still preserves the past, religions, and its history. No matter how modern India becomes, it is still very much an old country.”

“Ever since I could first write I have been doing so. When I was taught how to write and read at school, I made up my mind that this was what I love to do best and this was the world I was going to occupy.”

“I aim to tell the truth about any subject, not a romance or fantasy, not avoid the truth.”

“Usually a feeling of disappointment follows the book, because what I hoped to write is not what I actually accomplished. However, it becomes a motivation to write the next book.”

“I try to trace the connection between the characters and that way a story or plot emerges.”

“The book begins and ends with the visits to give the impression of a tunnel into their ancestors and family history. I believe in going backwards into the past - I felt I was digging a tunnel back to the past.”

“History is a cyclic poem written by time upon the memories of man.”

“Live out of your imagination, not your history.”

“History never repeats itself in the same way.”

“We, therefore, here in Britain stand shoulder to shoulder with our American friends in this hour of tragedy, and we, like them, will not rest until this evil is driven from our world.”

“History is the sum total of things that could have been avoided.”

“Because of the long, long history of British shipping, immigration, trade, empire, missionaries, you can have a better shot at telling a worldwide story in the British Museum's collection than any other. Britain has been more connected with the rest of the world than any other country, for longer.”