After the Dork series, Sidin Vadukut delivers a medical thriller

Bombay Fever is a medical thriller that exposes the chinks in the armour of the government
Bombay Fever
Bombay Fever

The author in question is popularly known for being the ‘Sceptical Patriot’, which is also the title of one of his best selling books. Sidin Vadukut, the man who is also known for the Dork trilogy — that takes a satirical dig at the management consulting industry, is back with Bombay Fever, a medical thriller. 
The story begins in Geneva, at an international watch trade fair. A series of coincidences lead a rogue microbe all the way to India, that causes the Bombay Fever outbreak. As the virus spreads, savaging Mumbaikars, social medical officers under the Srivatsa program try to contain it. But Bombay Fever isn’t going to wear out soon. In an email interaction, Sidin, divulges more about the book and what made him write a thriller. 

What was your idea behind writing Bombay Fever? Are you trying to caution those in power that we are terribly ill-prepared if such a medical emergency strikes our country?
Not at all. I am not sure how powerful fiction is as a tool to get powerful people in India to listen. It was always meant to be a thrilling novel that was also reasonably plausible. I think all the great thriller novels strike a good balance between the fantastical and the plausible. The story has to be just fantastic enough to make you want to flip through the pages, but also just real enough to make you feel for the people, the places... perhaps even imagine yourself in the plot. In case the book makes people sit up and think about pandemics and microbes and self-medication and so on... damn good I say. 

How much of the story is based on research and which parts of it are purely fictional?
I spent around a year and half researching this book. I spent several months trying to understand how viruses and bacteria worked. I think elements of fact and fiction are intertwined through all the areas of the book. From the nature of the outbreak itself, to the institutions that deal with it, the historical references, the way in which people panic, all these things are at least partly based on the research I have carried out. In some sense there aren't that many fictional aspects to the book. I made up the disease of course. But it is based on outbreaks that have already taken place all over the world. The nature of the panic that I describe in the book is based on both Indian outbreaks like the Surat Plague, but also the cholera in Italy. The most important historical touchstone, for the book was the Spanish Flu Pandemic. 

Why did you choose non-linear story-telling for this book?
Partly because I love non-linear stories. I think for a story in which you are trying to create some sense of discord in the reader's mind, multiple threads are very useful. When I was writing Bombay Fever, I knew almost immediately that I wanted to tell the story of an outbreak from the perspective of four or five characters. Each of whom could only see a small part of the whole picture as it was unfolding. I did not want anybody to conveniently be able to have a certain omniscience over the whole thing.

How long has it taken to complete this book? When and where did you write it?
The book took approximately two years to research and write. In fact most of the writing took place in two very short bursts of activity. Around two weeks each.

What does your writing paraphernalia include? Any specific writing rituals?
When it comes to books I like to pack up my laptop and go away somewhere for three to four days of intense writing and editing. My favourite place to do this is the Gladstone Library at Hawarden, near Chester. This is a wonderful library with some attached rooms you can sleep in. It is quiet, with lots of scope for long, thoughtful walks. Bombay Fever was written mostly at the Gladstone Library, and also at The Buttery Hotel in Oxford. Mind you these are not pleasure trips. I usually spend full days indoors, writing thousands of words each day, before stepping out to get some Vitamin D.

If India or any of the cities ever face the threat of an epidemic, do you think we could survive with such a fractured administration?
We could survive. The administration is bad at prevention but it is reasonably good at damage limitation and just shutting people in to prevent things from spreading. 

What are you working on next?
I need a break. I am planning on going on a walking holiday. Maybe three or four days up and down Hadrian's Wall. Looking at the Roman ruins, reading, listening to things. I could use the peace and quiet. But I am always thinking of book ideas. I suspect the next one will either be another Dork novel, I have some ideas, or something historical. I have always wanted to look at the history of Christianity in India. Maybe something along those lines. Which reminds me. I've been telling myself I must read more books in Malayalam. So that is there too.

Your advice for aspiring writers? 
Read and write, a lot. The harsher you are on yourself when you start, the faster you will attain a level of mastery you are proud of.

ayeshatabassum@newindianexpress.com
@aishatax

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