“My style of writing is to allow the story to unfold on its own. I try ...” — Anita Desai Quote

“My style of writing is to allow the story to unfold on its own. I try not to structure my work too rigidly.”

“Someone who wants to write should make an effort to write a little something every day. Writing in this sense is the same as athletes who practice a sport every day to keep their skills honed.”

“People think that because I write about India I must be trying to portray India in a way.”

“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.”

“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.”

“I believe in civil rights, but not in special privilege laws to allow flaunting homosexuals to become role models for children.”

“The reality is that international institutions like the UN can only be as effective as its members allow it to be.”

“I choose material instinctually - at the heart of it are characters that I feel are fresh and original, and allow for an opportunity to, I suppose, explore uncharted ground.”

“You need to understand the market, know how you can differentiate yourself in it, and grasp the price and the functional differentiation competitive points that are going to allow you to be disruptive.”

“I practice yoga even when my schedule doesn't allow me to teach. I've been practicing for 17 years, since before it became hip.”

“The American people know that every day 3,000 kids begin to smoke, 1,000 of them die an early death. They're not going to allow us to go forward this year and not have comprehensive bipartisan legislation. It's in everybody's best interest.”