A Suitable Audience

As Graphic novelist Sarnath Banerjee held court at the Darbar Hall at the Jaipur literature Festival, he was least aware that amidst the hundreds gathered to hear his witty one-liners, in one corner of the hall, stood a short man, modestly dressed, with hair balding on the sides, trying to get a peek at Banerjee.

As photographer Dayanita Singh read out a poem by Vikram Seth, she jokingly asked, “Is he (Vikram Seth) in the audience?” As people looked around, the short man in the corner ducked even further into the corner trying to hide from the hundred eyes that were looking for him – the great Indian author, so humbly standing under the awning.