The different moods of Ramachandra Guha. Telegraph pictures

The scholar who has converted history into unputdownable page-turners and made non-fiction popular among all age groups, Ramachandra Guha, was here in the city recently to deliver a lecture. He talked to The Telegraph about his memories of Odisha, take on India’s political history and more.

How does it feel to visit Odisha?

It feels very special since I have many memories and nostalgia in this state. It is a personal connection from my student days. During my Delhi School of Economics days, I was here to study and research on the adivasi workers employed at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited division in Sunabeda, Koraput. I spoke to many tribals to know about their economic situation after employment for my research and this let me discover my interest in matters beyond economics. I would not have been a writer of books had I not come to Odisha.

Almost all your books, and in particular India After Gandhi and Gandhi Before India have found immense popularity not only among scholars but even young readers. What would you say about the interest for reading books among youngsters in the world of kindle and e-books?

It is true that sale of books have decreased a bit but then there are many readers too. Yes, technology has to some extent replaced books but I feel the readership is good enough and will continue.

As a biographer of Gandhi, what is your take on the criticism that often comes up in form of books or just rumours? There is a lot of misinformation, too, that gets circulated on social networks.

Gandhi himself was open to criticism and there is no problem if his life or experiments are being discussed. People write about it and it’s alright. It’s a perspective on his experiments. But it is also true that misinformation on social networking sites without proper research or evidence is circulated. If you correct them, too many questions are asked and now I have learnt that there is no point. I gave up answering or correcting since this will just continue forever.

As a scholar, do you feel there are many other subjects specially in culture, food and sports in India that do not get attention of historians?

Yes, the subjects to pick up are vast and especially in a country with such diversity. Indeed, many themes are undermined.

With the political situation in the country heating up for the upcoming general elections, who do you think the people need as a leader?

I don’t think we need a larger than life leader now like Gandhi or Nehru. The situation is different now. We need more civility in political leaders who assume that the political intentions of the other parties are good. We don’t need leaders calling each other names. No matter who comes to power, the leaders of the ruling and Opposition parties should have elaborate discussions and solve issues of the country.

What are you working on right now?

I am researching thoroughly for the second volume of Gandhi’s biography. This is taking me places and it will take about another four years or more.