CLEAN : 'This exceeded all expectations': Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka after winning Booker Prize

The transcript covers the author's experiences with language, publishing challenges, and self-censorship in writing. It highlights the difficulties faced in making a book accessible to a Western audience and the impact of political climates on writing in South Asia. The author reflects on the importance of inhabiting other minds in writing and the balance between creativity and self-censorship, especially in politically sensitive regions like Sri Lanka.

What was one of the main challenges faced by the speaker in publishing their book?

• Competition from other authors

• Insufficient funding

• Political situation in 1989

• Lack of interest from Western audiences

According to the speaker, what should novelists be able to do?

• Inhabit other minds with respect

• Focus solely on commercial success

• Avoid controversial topics

• Write only about their own experiences

Why did the speaker choose to self-censor some of their short stories?

• They were not well-written

• To avoid offending religious groups

• Due to lack of time

• To focus on a different genre

What was a significant aspect of the public protests in Sri Lanka described by the speaker?

• They were led by political leaders

• Only involved young people

• Were primarily focused on economic issues

• Included a diverse range of participants

How does the speaker compare the current situation in Sri Lanka to past events?

• It is similar to 1983

• It is worse than 1989

• It shows signs of past horrors but is not as severe

• It is completely different from past events