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News Sharma continued from page 2 think the seed of his presidential destiny was planted? DS: Hawaii. His parents met there and he attended one of the elite preparatory schools on the island, Punahou Acade- my. Hawaii was the last state to join the Union in 1959 after the attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II. Obama’s father arrived there as an exchange student in 1959 and Barack was born two years after Hawaii became part of the U.S. It shaped not only his inner-most self, his destiny, but also his vision of America as reflected in his saying, “There is no Red America or Blue America, only the United States of America.” As the first majority-minority state, you could say that Hawaii shaped Obama’s identity indelibly. They both grew up together, in parallel, and are now leading America towards being a blended nation, demographically. KW: What will be the focus of your next book about Obama? DS: Not clear yet, but something to do with American identity, politics and culture in the era of globalization, sim- ilar to what I have been writing about lately. KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would? DS: No one has asked ever said to me, “You’re not African-American, so why are you so obsessed with Obama? Why is Obama your muse?” Or, “Aren’t you tired of Obama yet? You know his polling numbers are falling.” KW: Would you mind saying something controversial that would get this interview tweeted? DS: President Obama will be an even bigger statesman in his post-presidency, while working for Africa’s develop- ment. KW: What is your secret wish? DS: To smoke a cigar with the President on the roof of the White House But, alas, he does not smoke anymore. KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read? DS: “The Future” by Al Gore, “A Singular Woman” by Dinesh Sharma Jenny Scott, “Legal Orientalism” by Teemu Ruskola, and I just started reading “The Great Soul” by Joseph Lelyveld. KW: What is your favorite dish to cook? DS: Fish Curry. KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision? DS: To attend Harvard, and recently the decision to write two books on President Obama, in that order. Hopefully, more to come! KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see? DS: There is no limit to what one can do! KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for? DS: That both my children will be well-educated, well- read and well-travelled. KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? DS: Dogged determination – consistency and persistence in performance. It’s not just enough to have good ideas, one has to deliver. KW: The Michael Ealy question: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be? DS: There are so many – I would like to have met Freud, Jung, Gandhi, Nehru, Lincoln, Churchill, Martin Luther King, Mandela, Claude Levi-Strauss, Dali, Margret Mead, Camus, Foucault, Sri Aurobindo, Krishnamurti, other Indi- an Philosophers. And the list goes on. As you can see, I think intellectuals are historical figures, too, because they can change the world with the power of their ideas. KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to write about a president? DS: Always follow your path, or the road less travelled. KW: Thanks again for the time, Dinesh, and best of luck with the book. DS: Thanks very much, Kam. Information is Today’s Currency At home or on the go, rely on TheSkanner.com for expert insight and guidance on what’s important to you Page 8 The Seattle Skanner January 29, 2014
