A man with an elusive ‘presence,’ R.K. Raghunath is always on the move. The writer’s first memory of him has an umbrella as the central element. Raghunath or Raghu, as his friends call him fondly, sits upright on the sofa, his lean frame occupying the space allowed to him strictly. Wander woman calls him R.K. by habit, and knows many facts about him.

First, he makes a delicious Puliyodharai (made with a pack of instant 777 Puliodharayi mix). Second, he is a filmmaker by trade. Third, he has an adorable Shweenie (a Shih Tzu and Dachshund mix breed dog). But if you wish to know someone’s true, authentic self, such obvious facts seem insufficient.

So, one evening, Wander Woman asked R.K. if he’ll answer the world-famous “Proust Questionnaire” or “Parisian Parlour Confessions” – a questionnaire made famous by the late author Marcel Proust, who wrote the infamously long (seven-volume) novel In Search of Lost Time in 1913.

Luckily, he agreed!


What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
Understanding myself.

What’s your greatest fear?
My mind. It’s royally conditioned by parents, education through schools, newspapers, magazines, and society.

What’s the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My Mind.

What’s the trait you most deplore in others?
Mind.

Which living person do you most admire?
Faithful Jainas, living without clothes…nirvana.

What’s your greatest extravagance?
Living.

What’s your current state of mind?
Romantic.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Truth.

On what occassion do you lie?
To define my presence.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Dislike appearing for the sake of appearance.

Which living person do you most despise?
None.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Being himself.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Being herself.

Which words or phrase do you most overuse?
Enjoy, life’s full of music.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Krishna.

When and where were you happiest?
Every moment, inhale and exhale.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Playing wind instrument.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Man without body…Shiva…a concept…not exact synchronisation but…

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Living.

If you were to die and come back as a thing or person, what would it be?
Died hundreds…born hundreds…it’s a circle…don’t know the beginning and the ending. Am available in the process of the never ending game.

Where would you most like to live?
Planet Earth.

What is your most treasured possession?
Planet Earth.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Not understanding one’s own self.

What is your favourite occupation?
Writing.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Receiving life as it is.

What do you most value in your friends?
Friendship.

Who are your favourite writers?
Ayn Rand, Lobsang Rampa, Vyas, Valmiki.

Who is your hero of fiction?
Krishna (itihaas).

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Krishna.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Sam Manekshaw, Swami Vivekanand.

What are your favourite names?
Sreedhar, Vaaman, Kesav, Sringaar, Mukund, Padmanabha, Dhamodar, Lingaa.

What is it that you most dislike?
Cheating.

What is your greatest regret?
Cheated.

How would you like to die?
Naturally.

What is your motto?
Enjoy, life’s full of music.