In an inversion of the expat experience where the third world writes about its experience in first world countries, Australian author Ian Burns has written a book on cricket whose chief protagonist is an Indian boy. Ask him about crossing the inevitable cultural divide and he cites his own childhood spent with Indian friends in Malaya and a self-confessed fascination for this country as enough reasons to create ‘Ranga’.

Burns is the author of various books and has also written a considerable number of comedy sketches and song
lyrics. He answered some questions regarding his new book— Ranga plays Australia...

Who is Ranga?

Ranga is a lad living in a village that was close to, but is now part of, Bangalore. He loves cricket, and is good at it, as are his friends, and he dreams of playing against other countries— the main difference with this particular wish is that he wants it to happen in the immediate future, rather than when he’s grown up!

Why pick an Indian protagonist one who you may not have been able to relate to... or were you?

I don’t think, fundamentally, that there’s much difference between boys— or girls— of different races. Many of their experiences are very similar— with other children, with adults, with their families. I don’t find it difficult to remember my own childhood (in Malaya and Australia), some of which has surfaced in my first published children’s book Scratcher. I also have two Indian (adopted) granddaughters... The issue of ‘relating to’ was a major one from the start, and I was fortunate to have the assistance of Subrata Kumar Bandyopadhyay and M Bhaktavatsala, who both helped me enormously with pertinent information and feedback.

You have said that, ‘this book could be seen as a useful adjunct in secondary schools for teaching English, geography, and history...’

Yes,there’s much in the story relating to these subjects. There’s considerable scope for an English teacher to discuss the overall structure of a story (and the sub-stories, ie chapters, of a novel), paragraph and sentence structures and styles, punctuation, varying (font) sizes, and visual presentation.

Wherever I could, I’ve used actual places (eg— Akkithimmanahalli, Bangalore, Bombay’s Taj Mahal Hotel, Melbourne) and the names of real people (eg Nanjundappa, Brigadier Hill, de Mello, Bradman, the Captain of the Strathnaver), and actual dates (for example, the Strathnaver’s departure from Bombay and arrivals in Fremantle, Adelaide, and Melbourne), as well as incorporating a number of historical aspects of the time (especially Indian)— the story is set in 1949/50. 

There’s also an extensive quiz at the end of the book, which would encourage the development of library and Internet research skills. Finally, there’s a bit of arithmetic involved in trying to work out the result of The Game!

These comments apply equally to both Indian and Australian readers. 

This is an e-book, correct?

Not entirely, it’s a book published (to date) on the Internet, but purchasable as a regular paperback.

What has the response been so far?

It’s too soon to say.

Are you looking at publishing in a standard format?

I would very much like to find a regular publisher (or publishing sponsor), especially in India.

Who is your favourite cricket player— Indian and Australian?

Gilchrist and Tendulkar. These types of players are the inspiration for the next generation, including, retrospectively, Ranga.  

How feasible is it for one player to win or lose a match in a team game like cricket? In that sense explain Ranga's story...  

A single player can make a winning contribution, by a fine innings under great pressure, or an inspired period of bowling (including a dose of luck!).  Recent examples are Michael Clark at the end of the Sydney Test, and Kumble’s captaincy in Perth. 

Ranga’s story is not about winning or losing— winning or losing aren’t mentioned in the book, although both teams are keenly aware of the contest. It’s about the struggle, and the joy, indeed about the journey, of cricket at its best. There are frequent interpolations throughout the book on life, mostly from the point of view of a guru... The book agrees that cricket can be a metaphor for life, but I wouldn’t want to make too much of that serious stuff— it’s really, at the bottom, about fun.

Why India vs Australia and not Australia vs, say,  England (your old rival)?

One, because Indians love cricket even more than the Poms. Two, because Indians are great readers in English.

Three, as mentioned, I have Indian granddaughters (and two of my characters have the girls’ Indian names).

Four, there are more Indian English readers/cricket lovers than there are Australians! Five, when I began writing the story there was an Indian tour in prospect. Six, I had visited India a couple of times (though my experience was pretty superficial). Seven, I was lucky enough to have two Indian gentlemen to help me with local information, and to critically review the writing.

What new did you learn about India during the writing of this book?

The complexity of how Indian names are determined (at least traditionally), the beauty of much of the locales, some Indian folk lore, a lot about contemporary India (particularly Bangalore) 

The game?

How hard it is to create a new ‘take’ on a cricket match.

Yourself?

That I can actually do something that I thought I could do but didn’t know that I could do! I’m now working on a Bollywood script, which might also suggest doing something different to the story. (A major advantage of working with my Internet publisher is that changes can be effected in less than an hour.)

‘Ranga Plays Australia’ is available on the Internet, at www.lulu.com/ianburns.
 It can be down loaded at little cost, or in paperback. version.