‘Writing to dazzle can be a fatal mistake of the preoccupation with writerly craft’: Saikat Majumdar

Having read several of Saikat Majumdar’s novels and a couple of his non-fiction books, I consider him one of those rare contemporary writers who move seamlessly across fiction, nonfiction, and academia – embodying the spirit of a true literary polymath. What I find particularly compelling about his writing is the way it inhabits both intimacy and ideas with equal ease. His novels delve into love, desire, friendship, memory, cities, and the shifting textures of modern life with emotional acuity, while his nonfiction carries the same depth through sharp insight and elegant prose. Across genres, his writing has consistently challenged and moved me, often leaving me with unexpected reflections long after I’ve finished reading.

In a conversation with Scroll, Majumdar talked about his latest book Open Intelligence: Education Between Art and Artificial, the value of narrative intelligence, why we urgently need to re-evaluate our intellect, and more. Excerpts from the interview:

Let me begin by saying that I’ve long admired your fiction – you are among my favourite contemporary Indian writers. So, I’m especially curious to know what prompted Saikat Majumdar, the novelist, to write Open Intelligence: Education Between Art and Artificial?
Fair question. Writing through the years, the technical difference between genres feels less important than certain overarching preoccupations that...

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