Destiny’s Child

I had heard the story often in my childhood but I saw it together chronologically only later. A few years before he died — I must have been 18 or 19—I was sitting with my father and he began talking about the past and made a chronological chart of each year,dating where he had been. This turned out to be an important guideline for the book.

What are the other sources you have referred to?

Apart from the chart,there were letters of correspondence,newspaper clippings of my father’s articles,photographs from our private collection and,mostly,conversations with my mother. Thanks to the internet and a blog dedicated to Harbou,the information that gave a structure to my book.

You have written on diverse subjects,authored biographies,documentaries,recipe books,children’s books and even self-help books.

There has been a long gap between all my books. I wrote a book on the Ajmer dargah. I’ve always wanted to write children’s books and,in fact,my first story came when my children were born. My interests may seem a little disjointed,but they’re all a part of me and this book is my soul.