‘My name is Abir Ganguly. I work for a tabloid in Bombay. I am 23. I masturbate eleven times a day. I exaggerate frequently....’ Reading excerpts from his book  ‘My Friend Sancho’, at Landmark, Nungambakkam, Chennai on Monday, Amit Varma, drew hearty laughs from an amused audience.

My Friend Sancho, Varma’s debut novel published by Hachette India in May 2009, is a contemporary love story set in Mumbai. It follows Abir Gangualy, a young, cynical crime reporter who is asked by his editor to do a profile on the victim of an alleged police encounter. In the course of doing so, he meets Muneeza, the dead man’s daughter. The book is about the unlikely friendship that forms between them, and how it changes Abir.

Varma read portions from his book and spoke about his experiences in an interview with columnist Sharanya Manivannan.

Sharing his experiences as a blogger and a novelist the author said, ‘I  had always wanted to be a novelist and this is my dream come true. Ever since I started blogging I got a wonderful experience in writing. In the course of my blogging I learned one lesson- that is to respect my readers.

‘My self is nowhere in the book except that the story is set in Mumbai because I know the place better than any other city. Apart from this superficial setting the book does not have anything about me. The book is a narration about the protagonist Abir,’ Varma said.

Contrasting the protagonist and himself the author said,’ my profession as a journalist does not have anything to do with the protagonist in the story. The idea came to my mind and I penned it down. It was only a coincidence that Abir and me share the same profession.’
‘My advice to young writers is that never ever write for glamour. Write regardless of money. And don’t look at writing as a career. It is insane.

Being a debut novelist my inspiration for writing is from my readers. It is their enjoyment that inspired me to write. And I want them to enjoy through my books,’ he said.  The author who has begun working on his next novel does not have any idea of getting into films.  

Amit Varma is based in Mumbai. He has worked in advertising, television and journalism, and has written for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Observer and Wisden, as well as many Indian publications. He won the Bastiat Prize for Journalism in 2007. He writes the popular blog, India Uncut.