In a chat with Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, author Manu Joseph sits down to discuss his latest book, Why The Poor Don’t Kill Us: The Psychology of Indians. 

The interview delves into the author’s views on class, privilege, writing, and Indian society, as well as the motivations behind social behaviours, the limitations of higher education, and the realities of class mobility in India. 

Talking about his new book, Manu says, “This book deals with motive and psychology, which is the most challenging thing to write about… because then you are open to interpretation.”

While listing his literary influences, he says, “I don’t think writing is entirely about a gift. Writing could be personality. Writing need not be talent. But at the same time, there is a talent component to writing… There is a complexity in your head. And it requires a certain talent to bring it out exactly the way it’s in your head.”

Discussing class, upward mobility, and Indian society, Manu speaks about his personal journey. “There’s one phenomenon which the Indian middle class never talks about – how much inheritance defines their lifestyle.”

About his skepticism towards activism and his analysis of Indian politics, Manu says, “Good does not happen because some people who think they’re very good teach people how to be good or magically reform society. Good happens when the second rung of a society can’t stand the top rung and they go to war.”

He reflects on the public’s acceptance of class and authority: “The most important thing about people is that they are not good or evil. They exist in an unremarkable space with a lot of virtues. It’s just that the hierarchy of virtues is different, and that is what separates people.”

On the question of why he writes, he says, “Honestly, generally, I don’t know why I write… The only intelligent comment I’ve read on writing is from the writer, actor, Phoebe, who plays Fleabag in Fleabag. She says… writing is a second shot at life.”

Watch.