Author of the award-winning Moth Smoke and nominee of the Man Booker Prize, Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a charming, quietly furious novel that recasts a familiar story: a young man comes to a great metropolis to seek his fortune and realises that what he has adopted constitutes a betrayal of his deepest self and he finally returns home.

The narrator, a Pakistani man, Changez, chatting with a suspicious American stranger, in a cafe in Lahore, states that studying in a US university secured his future, but “could not make me forget the city of my birth”. He mentions a relationship with a woman, Erica, whose former lover, Chris, had died of cancer, mentioning that he could not forget Chris’ ghost and get involved in a love affair. Set a few years after 9/11, the book contains moments of immigrant experiences of discrimination that cause alienation. It is distinguished by its portrayal of class aspirations and inner struggle as Hamid skilfully sketches the hypocrises of Ivy League meritocracy.
NISHA PAUL pins the author down for a brief exchange.

The inspiration behind The Reluctant Fundamentalist...?
I started writing the book in 2000, in New York. I was exploring the issues of living and working in America. The first draft was finished before 9/11 but, since then, it was impossible not to include 9/11 and its aftermath. It was a world-changing moment and I guess it was destined to be included. Changez’s character is not based on anyone I know and therefore I could make him a bit more extreme than I am.

How does it feel being nominated for the Man Booker Prize?
Without doubt, it is a dream come true and very exciting to be a nominee. I know and accept that luck plays a pivotal role in such situations as so much depends on the type of people on the jury and the kinds of books they like to read.

Which part of the book captured you the most while writing?
There are so many moments that it’s hard to single one out. For a lot of people the scene when Changez watches the Twin Towers collapsing, on television, is a deeply rendering moment. For me personally, it’s the scene when Changez makes love to Erica for the first time; it is natural yet powerful as his desire meets its source.

Rahul Bose is working on the script of Moth Smoke...?
Rahul is writing the script for Moth Smoke and making it into a film. In fact, it’s wonderful to see both my books being made into films. Mira Nair has bought the rights for my book, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and will be scripting it soon.