Conversation with Subramani on Writing and Publishing

This interview took place in Lautoka between October to November 2017 at the Fiji National University where both Prashneel Goundar and Professor Subramani teach in the Department of Language and Literature. In the conversation, Professor Subramani opens up to Prashneel about his previous works of fiction and non-fiction; eminent writers in the South Pacific, his recent Hindi novel Fiji Maa, latest fiction with USP Press, Wild Flowers (2017). The prolific writer sheds light on literary friendship with writers such as Satendra Nandan, Albert Wendt and Epeli Hau’ofa to name a few. He empowers emerging writers while discussing his new role as the Chairman of the Association of Fiji Writers-Artists (AFWA). Despite mentoring individuals to write their autobiographies, Subramani clarifies his stand on opting to stay away from his own memoirs. A set of questions were provided by Goundar which Subramani responded to by adopting a personal style that reveals many aspects of his biography not mentioned elsewhere. There is much in this conversation for discussion and debate.