Cambodian melodies inspire him to write

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) When author and civil servant from Kerala, India, MP Joseph was deputed to Cambodia in 2004, the thought of moving there irked him.

"I was reluctant, I admit I did not want to move there. I landed on the Cambodian soil on Valentine's Day (February 14), 2004, and I must admit that it transformed me. The country bought back memories from my past life, which is essentially something I don't believe in," laughed Joseph.

What came after his move to the Indo-Chinese nation was a long love affair, which inspired him enough to write his first work of fiction My Driver Tulong and other Tall Tales from a Post Pol Pot Contemporary Cambodia. "The book was released by former diplomats Dr Shashi Tharoor, Dr TP Sreenivasan and Dr Christy Fernandez in India," said Joseph.

The Middle East release at the Sharjah International Book Fair is something of a dream come true for Joseph.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, he said: "It is my first time here and I am really impressed by the massive infrastructure. Once I saw the size of the space, I feel very humbled to be part of so many titles and authors."

Joseph is a first-time author and the book is a humorous and fictionalised travelogue set in Cambodia where Joseph spent seven years on a UN assignment.

"Cambodia had been ravaged by the Khmer Rouge genocide. Recovering from that tragedy was all people were talking or writing about. There was nothing left behind - people were living in the pre-historic era. that was the extent of the damage left behind," he added.

"I believe that Cambodia is one of the UN's biggest success stories because the country transformed from a war-torn communist moth into a fascinating free market butterfly," he said.

The book has thirteen inter-connected stories that bring alive the modern soul of Cambodia and the innocence of its modernising people, who are yet recovering from the excesses of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge genocide.

The book also brings out the strong Sanskritised Indian past of Cambodia and the many surprising links that Cambodia has with Kerala, including the acclaimed boat races. This is the first time an Indian author has ever ventured to write on Cambodia.

The author feels that he felt at one with the South East Asian nation because it reminded him so much of his hometown in Kerala, but he also felt an unexplained connection to the land.

"I believe the book is a non-prescriptive tour guide of Cambodia. Would interest travellers and young readers," he said.

Dhanusha Gokulan The resident transport and traffic expert, with a touch of music, culture, and youth. I report on everything from rent hikes to traffic jams, from 'most expensive' experiences to tallest buildings, from encouraging upcoming talents to camels laughing. I've been a journalist for seven years and I am ridiculously passionate about music, books, internet memes, Facebook procrastination, and the occasional sport activity (candycrush).

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