‘A Rude Life outcome of frustration’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 15

FICCI FLO Amritsar chapter hosted journalist, author and food critic Vir Sanghvi to talk about his memoir ‘A Rude Life’ at a special event here on Wednesday. Sanghvi shared interesting bits from his life which were included in the book while keeping the conversation as engaging as his writings.

During the conversation, Sanghvi revealed that the book takes the readers through a kaleidoscope — personal life, stories of and about celebrities and politicians, middlemen and behind-the-scene life of a journalist. Throwing light on the inspiration behind the book, Sanghvi said it was the lockdown that sowed the seed.

“I think it was boredom and frustration. I would not have written the book if there was no lockdown in 2020. I decided to write on one thing I knew about: myself,” Sanghvi revealed. The acclaimed journalist continued by sharing his love for his father, “I lost my father when I was 15. He was in his own way a very glamorous figure, because he went abroad more, which most Indians did not back then. He died succumbing to lung cancer. The money he left behind dried up soon enough and my life changed forever.”

During his years as a journalist, Sanghvi had close encounters with several Bollywood personalities and eminent politicians. Sharing his experiences with Big B and Shahrukh Khan, Sanghvi called them ‘decent’ and ‘incredibly intelligent person’ respectively. He also expressed his love for the holy city. “I am quite familiar with the city’s food legacy and feel totally at home here,” he said.

Manjot Dhillon, chairperson, FLO Amritsar, who moderated the conversation said having Vir Sanghvi to interact with the city audience was quite an experience.