A WRITER’s TALE
I was born, of Indian Sikh parents, in the mid 50s in Glasgow, Scotland. I spent my earliest years in the north eastern village of Cromarty before returning to Glasgow where I attended Allan Glen’s School.
I had an early ambition to be a writer of science fiction novels and got as far as getting an agent to represent my book, Such Lunatic Gods. But with the impatience of youth I discarded him, though retaining the dream to be a writer. My father had various businesses in Glasgow and I was working in one of these when I heard a message on the local radio station. They were looking for contributors to a new comedy series they were planning. I’d never written comedy before, but I quickly penned a sketch called The Curse of Hitler’s Moustache and sent it off. The response was positive and I was selected to join a comedy writing team. From the publicity I got for that I was asked to write a stage play for a local Asian community arts organisation. Again, I’d never written for theatre, but I wrote Citizen Singh, based very loosely on my father’s life. I’d written short stories and articles before and even been paid for some of them, but that was really the beginning of my professional writing career.
The writer’s life is one of feast or famine and during periods of famine I’ve tried to broaden my skills base and take on work that has only a vague connection to writing. So I’m a qualified trainer as well as having run the first Glasgow Melas (Asian cultural festivals). The first of these, held in 1990 when Glasgow was the European Capital of Culture was the largest Asian cultural event ever held in Europe. I’ve also directed the video documentary Common Cause, about the Indian Army’s contribution to the Second World War and organised a photographic exhibition, the Sikhs in Glasgow.
I’ve been married twice, to Elizabeth and Sheila and have a daughter, Leanne, from my first marriage.
All content on this site is © 2011 Gurmeet Mattu
