My next book will be on my parents, says Daman Singh

Daman Singh, novelist and daughter of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has said her next work would be a `personal biography' of her parents.

Singh, who is here to present her new work `Sacred Grove' at the Kovalam literary festival which began here today, said she had not yet chosen a title for the new book.

"I think I can't be critical of them in the book. I will try to present the different aspects of their life. Though politics may figure in the book, it is not about politics, but a personal account," she said in an informal chat with reporters on the sidelines of the festival.

Answering a question, Singh said she believed that her father, along with many others, could pull India out of economic crisis and put the country on a path of economic growth. More investments were coming in health and education sectors, she said.

"Though I don't feel qualified to evaluate the policies, I find the results as encouraging. I have a lot of faith in my father. He feels for the common man personally," she said.

On how the prime minister took the strain of the highest job at his age, she said he was actively doing his work now. "The moment he feels he is not fit, he will step down," Singh said.

Asked about the chances of her joining politics, Singh quipped, "I am not interested in politics. I am bad at economics and politics. I am happy as a writer."

Singh said Indian writing in English was definitely exciting at the moment. "I don't know whether Indian writing has come of age, but with the kind of books coming out, it is certainly a reader's paradise. More Indian authors are getting their works published abroad and a few have got booker prize. These works have also catered to what Indian readers want," she said.

To a query on Arundhati Roy's stinging criticism of the central government's policies, Singh said Roy was a powerful writer. "With her experience, perspective and language, Roy has a way of communicating with readers, though I can't agree with everything she writes," she said.

Singh had a brief conversation session with Chinese writer Lijia Zhang on the latter's book `Socialism is Great' at the festival today.