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Chennai | Posted on Feb 25, 2012 at 08:59am IST
Chennai is my favourite city: Balian
CHENNAI: For an author of Armenian origin, based in the United States
=80` it is quite surprising when John D Balian reveals that Chennai is
his favourite city in India. He offers, "This is actually my fifth
time in India. I work as a corporate executive now," says the doctor,
for whom travel is part of the job. He goes on, "But the reason I look
forward to coming here so often is because Chennai has such a strong
connection to Armenian heritage. This is something that dates back
thousands of years." Which is perhaps why the author even made it a
point to track down a 17th century Armenian church in the city. Don't
know where that is? On Armenian Street, near Parrys corner of course.
Balian was in Chennai on Thursday for the launch of his bestseller,
Gray Wolves and White Doves. So far, the novel has been distributed in
the US alone, where it was released last year. For those unfamiliar
with the title, it revolves around a largely 'autobiographical' tale
of a young boy (Hanna) in a tiny village at the edge of the Turkish
plains in Anatolia. "All the events in the book are factual," the
author says and e-laborates, "Growing up in the ghettos, I faced
adversity very early on." This is apparently reflected by the many
twists in the book.
After tragedy strikes in his family, five-year-old Hanna is forced to
go into exile and later, is despatched to a seminary in Jerusalem with
a new identity; caught in a crossfire of 'unholy' wars, only to escape
years later as a fugitive on the run. "I always thought that my life
would make for a thrilling and entertaining book. It took over eight
years of writing," the author says.
For Balian, it was meant to be a work of literature, not merely a
novel.
Also, he adds, "I wanted to leave a legacy for my three sons,
something to remember me by and where we came from." But how much
impact a story such as this one - with its backdrop of Middle eastern
conflict and suppression - can find in India? Balian says, "Actually,
I've had a lot of positive feedback from Indian readers in the US
already." In fact, he recalls an email sent to him by an 80-year-old
resident of Bengaluru. "This gentleman told me in his mail that he
would meditate everyday," the author recounts. "And then he said that
reading my book was like meditation for him!" Clearly, it was a good
decision to market this book offering in India.
Asked when the book will hit Turkish book stands, the author says, "I
believe it will be a best seller there. But publication houses are not
too liberal." He cites an example of a publisher jailed, simply for
the use of the word, 'genocide'. As consolation, Balian adds that the
book is slated to be translated into various languages - Armenian and
then Turkish, Chinese and Arabic - to make it more accessible for a
global public.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-is-my-favourite-city-balian/233478-60-120.html
From: Baghdasarian
Chennai | Posted on Feb 25, 2012 at 08:59am IST
Chennai is my favourite city: Balian
CHENNAI: For an author of Armenian origin, based in the United States
=80` it is quite surprising when John D Balian reveals that Chennai is
his favourite city in India. He offers, "This is actually my fifth
time in India. I work as a corporate executive now," says the doctor,
for whom travel is part of the job. He goes on, "But the reason I look
forward to coming here so often is because Chennai has such a strong
connection to Armenian heritage. This is something that dates back
thousands of years." Which is perhaps why the author even made it a
point to track down a 17th century Armenian church in the city. Don't
know where that is? On Armenian Street, near Parrys corner of course.
Balian was in Chennai on Thursday for the launch of his bestseller,
Gray Wolves and White Doves. So far, the novel has been distributed in
the US alone, where it was released last year. For those unfamiliar
with the title, it revolves around a largely 'autobiographical' tale
of a young boy (Hanna) in a tiny village at the edge of the Turkish
plains in Anatolia. "All the events in the book are factual," the
author says and e-laborates, "Growing up in the ghettos, I faced
adversity very early on." This is apparently reflected by the many
twists in the book.
After tragedy strikes in his family, five-year-old Hanna is forced to
go into exile and later, is despatched to a seminary in Jerusalem with
a new identity; caught in a crossfire of 'unholy' wars, only to escape
years later as a fugitive on the run. "I always thought that my life
would make for a thrilling and entertaining book. It took over eight
years of writing," the author says.
For Balian, it was meant to be a work of literature, not merely a
novel.
Also, he adds, "I wanted to leave a legacy for my three sons,
something to remember me by and where we came from." But how much
impact a story such as this one - with its backdrop of Middle eastern
conflict and suppression - can find in India? Balian says, "Actually,
I've had a lot of positive feedback from Indian readers in the US
already." In fact, he recalls an email sent to him by an 80-year-old
resident of Bengaluru. "This gentleman told me in his mail that he
would meditate everyday," the author recounts. "And then he said that
reading my book was like meditation for him!" Clearly, it was a good
decision to market this book offering in India.
Asked when the book will hit Turkish book stands, the author says, "I
believe it will be a best seller there. But publication houses are not
too liberal." He cites an example of a publisher jailed, simply for
the use of the word, 'genocide'. As consolation, Balian adds that the
book is slated to be translated into various languages - Armenian and
then Turkish, Chinese and Arabic - to make it more accessible for a
global public.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-is-my-favourite-city-balian/233478-60-120.html
From: Baghdasarian