Virag: What is happening with Shantaram?

Diwali is a great big Hindu celebration of new year. The first day of the festival found us in Mumbai. We checked out of the hotel, and I had to go to pick up my new pair of glasses from Kalbadevi road. (You can get a pair of glasses made with eye test for about 30-40 pounds).
Jo get the taxi for me, and waited in Leopolds Cafe.

We know Leopolds from the book I am reading, called Shantaram. I received it as a present from friends before I left for India. The book is a fascinating story of an Australian fugitive who lived in Bombay for eigth years during the 80's. The main character had met his friends and strated his life in the city in Leopold's.

I got back happy with my new glasses, and we were about to leave the place when an extravagant man walked in. Tall, fit body, strong features, long blond hair. He looked like some kind of a celebrity from the 80's. We made some jokes, that he looked like a wrestler from WWF. But I suddenly thought... Maybe he is Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts the author of my book? And he was! Those who have read the book will know why I got so excited. I have been reading the nearly 1000 pages book and told every story to Jo, including lots of hints about India and the Indian people. When you travel, you can experience how difficult it is to get real close to their culture and break this tourist-Indian wall. Shantaram had managed to do that so we can learn a lot from him.

Because I kept telling all the stories to him, Jo was very interested about him, and said we should find out from the Internet what is happening now with Shantaram. I approached the long table where he sat with friends and asked him to sign my book and tell me how his life is going now. Despite his celebrity look, Linbaba is a natural, honest man, who has no allures at all. He gave me the impression of a happy person, who after all those crazy things that happened to him finally found the way home.

My Diwali present was to met the real Shantaram and to learn that he is safe and happy and really the Son of God. All respect to him.