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The High Priest of Humour

THE LOUNGE | TURN OF THE PAGE Ajay Ramachandran writes about his experiences reading the works of P.G. Wodehouse, what worked for him and how he thinks Wodehouse will fare in the future: ‘…as long as Shakespeare and Dickens are read, Wodehouse will also be’, he says.

Spark’s April 2018 Issue: Our 100th!

It is with absolute joy and thrill that we present to you our hundredth issue! Themed #MyWordsMyVoice, this milestone issue celebrates the platform that we hope Spark has provided to hundreds of writers to explore their creativity. Read the works of 15 writers who were invited to contribute to this issue, and an interview with Shreya Ila Anasuya about a platform that brings together gender, sexuality and disability.

When People Tell Their Own Stories, it is a Profoundly Political Act: Shreya Ila Anasuya, Skin Stories

An initiative of Point of View, a Mumbai-based non-profit, Skin Stories features ‘fresh new perspectives and urgent personal essays at the intersection of gender, sexuality and disability’. In this interview, Vani Viswanathan talks to Shreya Ila Anasuya, managing editor of Skin Stories, about the platform’s approach to sexuality, disability and gender; Shreya’s experience working with writers on their contributions; and the importance of featuring personal narratives on topics that don’t often come to the fore.    

The Role of Creative Writing: Our Fiction Contributors

Read what our fiction contributors have to say about the role of creative writing in today’s world.

The Role of Creative Writing: Our Non-fiction Contributors

What is the role of creative writing in today’s world? The contributors of our 100th issue’s non-fiction pieces tell us.

The Role of Creative Writing: Our Poetry Contributors

The poets of our 100th issue talk about what they believe is the role of creative writing in today’s world.

Grandmother Tongue

There’s an urgent need for young people to start reading and writing in the regional languages, and not just English, opines Suchitra Ramachandran, pointing out that forgetting a language and its literature is to forget where we came from.

Skulduggery

Human nature is such that sometimes it can be unimaginably noble or unspeakably cruel. Ram Govardhan’s work of fiction is set in an unusual backdrop and reveals some startling truths about our natures.

‘Sudden Lull’ & ‘Unspoken’

Silent contemplation makes one more mindful of even mundane tasks, makes us conscious of the moment at hand and has a calming effect, says Shikhandin. Her poems, ‘Sudden Lull’ and ‘Unspoken’, address contemplation in silence.