Sen and Sensibility

There is little doubt that author Gautam Sen’s new book, THE AUTOMOBILE: An Indian Love Affair, will go on to become the definitive ‘go to’ book for all those who want to satiate their thirst for knowledge about Indian car culture and history. In this interview he discusses all of that and more.  TOS: You have written several award-winning books over the years, and now, your latest book, THE AUTOMOBILE: An Indian Love Affair, brings readers up to speed with the Indian auto scene, capturing both, the past and the present. What prompted you to write this very important book for our times? SEN: My earlier books on the Indian historic vehicle scene were more serious deep dives into specific cars and collectors, as well as the Indian princes, and the history of the automobile, specifically the industry, in India. They were addressed to the extremely serious enthusiasts and industry experts. I had always wanted to do a book for a more general audience, people who had more than a passing interest in automobiles, but ones who were not into specifications, technicalities, or intricate anorak facts. I also wanted to examine and understand better the social and cultural impact of the automobile in India and