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Karan Mahajan

102quotes

Karan Mahajan: A Life of Words and Ideas


Full Name and Common Aliases


Karan Mahajan is an Indian author, journalist, and translator, best known for his novels and essays that explore the complexities of modern India. He is also a frequent contributor to publications such as _The New Yorker_, _Granta_, and _The London Review of Books_.

Birth and Death Dates


Born in 1984, Karan Mahajan's life has been marked by an insatiable curiosity about the world around him. While there is no record of his passing, we can say that his work continues to be widely read and celebrated today.

Nationality and Profession(s)


A citizen of India, Karan Mahajan identifies as a writer, journalist, and translator. His diverse career has taken him from reporting on politics and culture in India to publishing critically acclaimed novels and essays that have been translated into numerous languages.

Early Life and Background


Growing up in New Delhi, Mahajan was exposed to the vibrant cultural and linguistic diversity of his city. His early life was marked by a love for reading and writing, which he credits with shaping his perspective on the world. He went on to study at Brown University, where he began to develop his skills as a writer.

Major Accomplishments


Karan Mahajan's writing career has been defined by several notable achievements. His debut novel, _The Association of Small Bombs_, was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize and won the 2016 Pen/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. He has also published two other novels, _The Great Lover_ and _Leisurely Strolls Through the Gardening District_. His essays have been widely praised for their insightful and nuanced portrayal of modern India.

Notable Works or Actions


Mahajan's writing often explores themes of identity, politics, and culture in contemporary India. His novel _The Association of Small Bombs_ is a powerful exploration of terrorism, trauma, and the human cost of conflict. In his essays, he has written about everything from Bollywood to Indian cuisine, always seeking to illuminate the complexities of life on the subcontinent.

Impact and Legacy


Karan Mahajan's work has had a significant impact on readers around the world. His writing has been praised for its lyricism, nuance, and depth, offering a unique perspective on modern India that is both personal and universal. As a translator, he has also helped to introduce Indian writers to global audiences, cementing his place as one of the most important literary voices of our time.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Karan Mahajan's quotes are often sought after because they offer a window into the complexities of modern India. His writing is characterized by its nuance and depth, making him a go-to source for insights on everything from politics to culture. Whether he is discussing the latest developments in Indian politics or reflecting on the human cost of terrorism, Mahajan's words are always marked by their intelligence, empathy, and wit.

As we reflect on Karan Mahajan's life and work, it becomes clear that his writing has left an indelible mark on readers around the world. His commitment to exploring the complexities of modern India through his novels and essays has made him one of the most important literary voices of our time. As a writer, journalist, and translator, he continues to inspire us with his unique perspective and lyrical prose, cementing his place in the pantheon of great writers who have shaped our understanding of the world.

Quotes by Karan Mahajan

There's a hustling, but also a self-centred vibe you can get from people in Delhi.
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There's a hustling, but also a self-centred vibe you can get from people in Delhi.
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People love talking about the banality of evil and the fact that ordinary people do bad things. I actually want to stay away from that.
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People love talking about the banality of evil and the fact that ordinary people do bad things. I actually want to stay away from that.
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When we talk about 9/11 and 26/11 - which is the shorthand for the Mumbai attacks in 2008 - we're talking about the most successful terrorist attacks in history. When you start trying to study the most successful event of its kind, it actually doesn't make for great fiction because there isn't the kind of failure in it that fiction thrives on.
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When we talk about 9/11 and 26/11 - which is the shorthand for the Mumbai attacks in 2008 - we're talking about the most successful terrorist attacks in history. When you start trying to study the most successful event of its kind, it actually doesn't make for great fiction because there isn't the kind of failure in it that fiction thrives on.
KM
I think that a lot of terrorists have been middle class and, more surprisingly, many of them have been people who were not directly affected by the things they're angry about.
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I think that a lot of terrorists have been middle class and, more surprisingly, many of them have been people who were not directly affected by the things they're angry about.
KM
Terrorists have goals beyond their supposed pacts with God. They are authors, too.
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Terrorists have goals beyond their supposed pacts with God. They are authors, too.
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Terrorists are people, too - they are given to error. Naipaul and then DeLillo do a good job in their novels of drawing this out: I'm thinking of DeLillo's contention in 'Mao II' that terrorists have replaced writers as the people who 'alter the inner-life of the culture.' I thought that was marvellous!
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Terrorists are people, too - they are given to error. Naipaul and then DeLillo do a good job in their novels of drawing this out: I'm thinking of DeLillo's contention in 'Mao II' that terrorists have replaced writers as the people who 'alter the inner-life of the culture.' I thought that was marvellous!
KM
Terrorists are as torn as anyone else.
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Terrorists are as torn as anyone else.
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Every time a blast happens, people ask, 'But why would someone do this?' Weirdly, it hasn't been answered well anywhere - neither in fiction nor non-fiction.
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Every time a blast happens, people ask, 'But why would someone do this?' Weirdly, it hasn't been answered well anywhere - neither in fiction nor non-fiction.
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It's getting worse under Prime Minister Modi. The economic miracle has failed, to a degree, and people are reaching back to a kind of imagined Hindu past for a feeling of pride. And that feeling of pride necessarily comes from denying any kind of Muslim heritage. People my age seem to be becoming illiberal in a way that I'm surprised by.
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It's getting worse under Prime Minister Modi. The economic miracle has failed, to a degree, and people are reaching back to a kind of imagined Hindu past for a feeling of pride. And that feeling of pride necessarily comes from denying any kind of Muslim heritage. People my age seem to be becoming illiberal in a way that I'm surprised by.
KM
In some ways, the best novel about terrorism, though it's not a novel, is 'The Looming Tower' by Lawrence Wright or 'Perfect Soldiers' by Terry McDermott.
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In some ways, the best novel about terrorism, though it's not a novel, is 'The Looming Tower' by Lawrence Wright or 'Perfect Soldiers' by Terry McDermott.
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