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AN INTERVIEW WITH A CANADIAN AUTHOR

Prof. J.L. Wangu, managing editor

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*Appeared in The Indian Teacher (New Delhi, India)

Jan.-Feb., 1979 issue, Vol. 1. No.2, also Glimpses, fall 2005

Mr. Stephen Gill is an India born teacher, turned Author‑Publisher in Canada and now is a Canadian Citizen. He had his early education in Delhi, passed his Intermediate from Allahabad, B A. from Punjab University and M.A. (Eng. Literature) from Agra University as a student of Meerut College, Meerut. After a lapse of about 18 years he visited his native land last month. The maiden issue of this journal had fallen into the hands of Mr. Gill. He was so much impressed with it that he gave a ring to your Editor. What transpired between your Editor and Mr. Stephen Gill is being shared with the readers.

I.T. Mr. Gill, what I could gather from your books, you have had your education from Oxford and Ottawa after having graduated from Agra University in India. What did you study at Oxford and Ottawa?

S.G. I went to Ottawa University for my Ph.D. degree for three year term. I was working on contemporary English Literature i.e. of 20th century. I published a few papers in the leading literary journals of the States and also one on Dylon Thomas in Mysore University Journal. Well, Mr. Wangu, I had a yearning for creative writing right even when I was a student in India. Novel fascinated me the most. So I applied for a scholarship at Oxford for specialization in Modern English Novel and won it. That took me to Oxford. However I came back to Ottawa after completing the tenure of Scholarship.

I.T. Was it a job or further study that made you to go abroad from India?

S.G. Well, both. First a job and then study.

I.T. I understand, Mr. Gill, that you had some teaching assignments in India and Ethiopia before you ultimately went to Canada. Could you please throw some light on your teaching assignments?

S.G. I taught English Literature at Indore for a while and then went to Ethiopia to teach.

I.T. Mr. Gill, you are an author of so many books. Could you please list a few?

S.G. I have twelve books to my credit. Among the important titles are Scientific Romances of H G. Wells; Bangladesh; Why; Immigrant; collection of Poems (Reflections and wounds); and English Grammar.

I.T. Which one do you think is your best creation?

S.G. Mr. Wangu, this is a difficult question to answer. It is just like asking which is beautiful, rose or lily. Every child is beautiful for a mother. All of them have given me immense satisfaction, though for different reasons e g. on Bangladesh I have worked too much and I have written and rewritten that book eight or nine times. I did not write that book either to please India or Bangladesh or displease Pakistan. My main aim was to find the truth and later on to share that truth with my readers. I am sure I have succeeded in my aim and that gives me satisfaction. I write poetry to portray my spiritual self and that is why the book--Wounds and Reflections-- has also given me immense satisfaction. Novels represent my intellectual self.

I.T. I have read your book Scientific Romances of H. G. Wells. He also switched over from teaching to literary writing and was by conviction a Fabian Socialist. It seems to me that Wells has allured you because you have tried to identify yourself with him in your sub‑conscious mind. You see, you being an Editor of Canadian Federalist and your Editorials therein (I have read a few of them) convince me to make that sort of opinion. What have you to say on this matter?

S.G. May be, yes. H. G. Wells is one who has influenced me as writer. I like him because he wrote to improve the world. Every writer has an obligation to society and that is why I write with a purpose. Wells realised the same and so did G. B. Shaw. I am also aware that I have to give something to society. As a human being it will be selfish on my part if I live only for myself particularly when there is so much of suffering and dangers around e.g. nuclear warfare is a great danger to survival of mankind. It took centuries to build civilization of ours but this nuclear war will destroy all this within minutes. A writer today can at least make humanity aware of this great danger. This is one thing that I try to bring out through my writings.

I.T. Why did you leave teaching for publishing business? If I am correct you head one of the leading publishing houses in Canada.

S.G. You are right. Vesta Publications is gaining a very important place in Canadian Literary phase. It is coming even in international sphere. It took five years to bring Vesta Publishing Ltd. to the present position and it is because Vesta has the same aim as that of its founder (Mr. Stephen Gill is its founder). Vesta accepts only those type of manuscripts which contribute something to society and which would make world a better place to live in. There are very few publishing houses in Canada as elsewhere who will publish a manuscript just because it contributes something to society.

I.T. Since you feel that there may be some element of identification in your sub‑conscious with H. G. Wells and you have read a great deal, I would like to know your views on his comment in Outline of History that future would be a race between education and catastrophe.

S.G. Aim of education is to enlighten a person, not to give him a training to find a job but to able to distinguish between right and wrong. So if a person who gets an education which helps him to distinguish between right and wrong, then definitely he will be aware of the impending danger of the world around him. Naturally properly educated individual will not leave every thing to scientists and politicians but probably keep an eye on their work and will not let them do the things which are catastrophic in nature.

I.T. What role do you think a teacher can play in warding off this catastrophe, besides your concept of World Federalism?

S.G. I think, it is a good question. Mr. Wangu. A teacher should let the students know the problem of poverty, nuclear warfare, pollution and in India over population, because these are the factors which can lead to utter destruction of the world.

I.T. As a teacher, I feel that cost of foreign books is prohibitive for an average Indian intellectual. You are author of varied interests, besides a publisher. Have you any programme to make your books available in India at cheaper rates? For example, your novels like Why and lmmigrant and books like Discovery of Bangladesh and English Grammar for Beginners would have found a good market in the country of your birth, had the prices been within the reach of average India reader.

S.G. I am getting all my books published for Indian readers in India through a Delhi‑based publisher. He is bringing out the Hindi Version of Why and Immigrant also. Since the books will be printed and published in India, so their prices will be within the range of Indian buyer, I feel so.

I.T. What I could gather from your talk and what the Canadian Press has been reporting about you, it seems you consider yourself as a World Citizen. H. G. Wells also was thinking on the same lines. Though an optimist earlier he finally surrendered to pessimism. What are your ideas, Mr. Gill on practicability of world citizenship?

S.G. The world is moving towards World Citizenship. I am not a pessimist. This world is moving towards world Government. I will say there are two types of governments-- bad and good. The United Nations is also a form of World Government or I will say it is a bad World Government. If reformed, then it will certainly become a good World Government. Besides The U.N., there are so many world bodies which have been functioning very successfully e.g. Association of Aviation

and P & T Union. Then there is Red Cross Society. They are functioning at international level. If they can function successfully, why cannot other elements of the Government? World Government is not very far off. If you believe in Evolution Theory, then a World Government shall be the product of evolution. The only solution of world problems is to have a world government.

I.T. This optimism vis‑a‑vis pessimism brings one more question to my mind and that is what can be the future of "Novel" as a piece of art with quality of more universality and deeper psychological penetration in competition with cinema?

S.G. Well, I think that novel can survive. There are certain elements which can be portrayed only through writing e.g. philosophical thinking or working of mind. Take the example of Immigrant-- I do not think a movie maker can say through a camera what has been said in Immigrant. He will have to cut down here and there to make it a good movie. I am of the view that there will always be people to whom the written page will appeal more than a slide.

I.T. One last question Mr. Gill. You have gone through the maiden issue of our journal-- The Indian Teacher. You must have liked it, that is why you have given an interview to me. By the way, what is your assessment of the future of this journal (I am reminded of your preface to your book Scientific Romances of H. G. Wells).

S.G. It is very informative publication. It is well produced and I was very much impressed with the material that you have included in your first issue. India does need such a magazine. As a publisher I feel, you are doing a good job. I wish the staff of your magazine every good wish. Keep up the good work.

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J.L. Wangu is a university professor and the managing editor of The Indian Teacher, published from New Delhi.