Giving voice to Botswana

Alexander McCall Smith has been to India five times, the latest at this year's Jaipur Literature Festival. But the desire for Indians to meet him has not dimmed a bit. He was he one of the stars - not just for the quality of his writing, but his approachableness, which saw him mingling with journalists and fans without losing his sang froid, for the crowd this year was huge.

He was part of quite a few panel discussions as well. And each one was well attented, nay overflowing. And he amply brought out his debt to the writing of one particluar Indian - RK Narayan, who, in his view, should have got the Nobel Prize.

While most Indians read him in English, his books are also available in translation in Tamil and Marathi, and Malayalam is on the anvil.

The coverage for him was extensive in the media. Some articles:
"It's what I like to do'  The Hindu
From Botswana via Malgudi Times of India
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, By Alexander McCall Smith Independent
The No 1 Ladies Man Indian Express
'I hear rhythms of prose in my mind' Financial Express