History has been a favourite subject — Interview with Srinidhi Balasubramanian

You have contributed to the Indica anthology Shared Roots. Could you talk about your journey as a writer?

This is first time that I am writing as a part of an anthology. This topic interested me. I am passionate about history and writing about history. The story is fiction and partly nonfiction. It has been a great experience. I learnt a lot about writing fiction. Indian Knowledge Systems and Indian heritage does interest me. History has been a favourite subject.

History has been dominated by varied schools of thought. Shared roots has been an interesting way to explore this — how different schools of history deal with this subject differently. The implications of the other point of view as well as your own point of view.

Your experience in participating in the Indica India-Cambodia Anthology Shared Roots?

Around the time I saw the anthology, I had read a book on maritime sea roots and maritime heritage. In a matter of few weeks, I saw the announcement for Shared Roots. The process of writing for Shared Roots involved huge learning from Otis and Ratul Ji.

Could you talk about cultural heritage as a shared experience between nations?

The fundamental aspect of this shared cultural experience between India and Cambodia is that you don’t have to colonise or have a superior or negative culture. In this cultural transaction there was always sharing and giving and taking as equals. We had a lot take and lot to give to them. It was very harmonious, the relationship was not based on a strife or a struggle.

Which aspects of shared Indo-Cambodian culture did you explore in your short story?

I explored the maritime silk route. Along with being a trade route, it was a route for culture and traditions. The story was based on historical fact — the Cambodia king sent an envoy Chola Emperor in the 11th century.

What are the themes in your short story?

The short story is historical fiction and historical narration. The narrative is based on the political, social and cultural exchanges.

The importance of creating shared cultural narratives liked Shared Roots?

There is a close connection between India and Cambodia. And it is even more strong now.

The way forward…

I am pursuing a project to use technology to make epigraphy more effective. We have lakhs of inscriptions and I would like to explore the Cambodian inscriptions — any interesting aspects that we can explore.