‘The truth of science is transitory, literature searches for the eternal in us’: Udayan Vajpeyi

Udayan Vajpeyi, a poet, essayist, fiction writer, translator, and editor, has carved a unique niche in contemporary Indian literary life. Known for his contributions to Hindi literature, Vajpeyi's work has continually broadened the linguistic and intellectual boundaries of the language. Among his notable works are Kuchh Vakya, Pagal Ganitagya Ki Kavitayen, Sudeshna, Door Desh Ki Gandh, Saatavan Button, Charkhe Par Barhat, and Patjhar Ke Paon Ki Mehndi. His novel Qayas, translated by Poonam Saxena into English as Love Is Participation in Eternity, has further extended his reach to international audiences. As a translator, Vajpeyi has introduced the works of writers such as Jorge Luis Borges, Anton Chekhov, Octavio Paz, and Shuntaro Tanikawa into Hindi, enriching the cultural and philosophical landscape of Indian literature. Vajpeyi's dual career as both a physician and a writer has influenced his creative process. He spent over four decades teaching Physiology at Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal. This intersection of medicine and literature, science and imagination, has fostered a distinct sensibility in his writing, one that is deeply attuned to memory, grief, the human body, and the intangible aspects of human experience. In a recent conversation with Scroll, Vajpeyi reflected on his childhood, his relationship with books, and the evolution of his literary journey. He described how, looking back, the memories of people enveloped in silences returned most vividly. These silences varied significantly depending on the individual, his mother, for instance, was surrounded by an almost sacred quietness, while his father had a different kind of silence. His grandmother, on the other hand, was known for her chilling tales of ghosts, which continue to linger in his consciousness. Vajpeyi traced the origins of his writing life to his childhood, during which he found solace in writing. He explained that words functioned as a sixth sense for him, allowing him to perceive the world more profoundly than through physical touch or speech. His diaries, he noted, were not meant to preserve memories or events for posterity but served as a means to inhabit the present moment. At the age of 18, while studying medicine, Vajpeyi encountered a pivotal moment that reshaped his understanding of literature. On a day filled with romantic longing, he heard a poem that resonated deeply within him. The voice seemed to emerge from both inside and outside, and upon recording it, he felt an inexplicable certainty that he was destined to become a writer. This realization marked the turning point in his life, steering him toward a career as a writer. Vajpeyi considers his diverse literary output, poetry, fiction, essays, and criticism, as interconnected expressions of a continuous pursuit of truth. While each form may differ in style and approach, they share a common emotional thread: a yearning for truth. He suggests that imagination, though varying in form, is the driving force behind all these genres, united by their shared quest for meaning. Memory holds a special place in Vajpeyi's work, often serving as a lens through which he explores themes of loss and remembrance. He views memory not merely as recollection but as a form of imagination infused with personal experiences. The early deaths of many close individuals have led him to recreate them through his writing, giving them new life through the power of language. This act of bringing the departed back into existence, he believes, is akin to what Marcel Proust described as smuggling across the boundary between life and death. Through writing, Vajpeyi finds a way to reintroduce the deceased into the living world, offering them a renewed presence.