Manoj Das says that for a long time he avoided cultivating acquaintance with famous or gifted people. That was for an unusual reason: he had formed his own ideas of them, based on their deeds. He did not like that impression to be disturbed by personal knowledge of someone’s personal traits. Besides, he says, ‘I am by nature a lonely man and I wish to remain lonely. But such is the arrangement of Providence that I am often thrown into groups and collectives – be it elitist or ordinary and average.’

How does he perceive a person when he comes across him or her? One thing is obvious: we find through his impressions glimpses of something enjoyable, something educative in the person concerned. Manoj Das does not comment on his subject beyond what emerges from a specific interaction or experience with the subject. But those glimpses are striking for their human and revealing quality.