A Delhi Obsession

Munir Khan, a recent widower from Toronto, on a whim decides to visit Delhi, the city of his forbears. Born in Kenya, he has lost all family connections, and has never visited India before.

While sitting in the bar of the Delhi Recreational Club where he's staying, an attractive woman joins his table to await her husband. A sparring match ensues. The two are from different worlds: Munir is a westernized agnostic of Muslim origin; Mohini, a modern Hindu woman. Utterly witty and charming, she's religiously traditional, but also a liberal and provocative newspaper columnist. Against her better judgment, Mohini agrees to show Munir around the city. As they explore the thriving markets and historical buildings of Old Delhi, an inexplicable attraction begins.

What follows is a passionate love affair uncontrollable yet impossible. This is a period of rising Indian nationalism in modern India that at times finds outlet in senseless violence. Constantly lurking at Munir's Club is the menacing and foreboding presence of a fanatical nationalist group. To them Munir Khan is simply a Muslim "love-jihadi" who has led the pride of Hindu womanhood, Mohini Singh, astray. At what cost, their passion? (From Doubleday Canada)

M.G. Vassanjiis a two-time Giller Prize winner, who has also won the Governor General's Literary Award for nonfiction, the Harbourfront Festival Prize, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for best first book (Africa), the F.G. Bressani Literary Prize and the Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize.

His novelNostalgiawas defended onCanada Reads2017 by Jody Mitic.

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Interviews withM.G. Vassanji

M.G. Vassanji: One of my favourite sentences from Nostalgia

8 years ago

Duration 0:44

M.G. Vassanji reads from his book Nostalgia, which will be championed by Jody Mitic on Canada Reads 2017.

Archives31:20Writers & Company: M.G. Vassanji's Book of Secrets; John Keegan's books of war

On this week's Writers and Company: award-winning novelist M.G. Vassanji and war historian John Keegan.This clip was edited for copyright reasons.

In 1994, author M. G. Vassanji shared about his former life as a nuclear physicist

8 years ago

Duration 1:19

In this video from the CBC Archives, M. G. Vassanji talks about his transition from science to literature, and his desire to document history through fiction.

More about M.G. Vassanji

Other books by M.G. Vassanji