V.Sanjay Kumar

There is no role that art has to play or a novel has to fulfill.
To question their purpose is like asking what we are doing on Earth.
I think readers have a role to play in society, not writers.

I grew up in Chennai and, after an MBA, I found myself in the world of financial services in Mumbai in the 80’s. By the ’90s, I’d made an honest foray into the world of art and banking software. These days, I run a gallery and, at every possible opportunity, I visit shows, art fairs, and biennales.

My first book came out in 2012, and once I started writing, I couldn’t stop. Four more works of fiction followed.

At some point, wine entered the picture. I like to think wine, art, and literature all share the same chaotic, beautiful energy.

Golf, though, is what keeps me grounded. Somewhere between the tee and the green, ideas tend to surface, clarity returns, and for a moment, the world makes a bit more sense.

Are these irrational, imperfect obsessions? Absolutely. But I’ve surrendered to them, gladly.

Irrational

Imperfect

Obsessions

Irrational

The Eighties and Nineties was an era of easy money. I acquired a fledgling software business. We implemented it in five countries and we were leaders in India. We were proud but we hardly made any money. Looking back I realise this irrational streak was a habit. I knew little about art and hardly visited shows, yet I got into the art business. To this day I consider it my best leap into the dark.

Imperfect

The stock market of the Eighties was a golden period. Insider trading was rampant. An imperfect market yielded irrational returns. The art market of the Nineties was more of the same. It was opaque, price discovery was a mystery, and liquidity was iffy. Quality was a subjective notion and some gatekeepers decided what was good enough. There are opportunities galore to this day for those who can forsake their conservative training. I see a similar future in the wine world.

Obsessions

I have spent the last ten years writing fiction with no background in literature and in the end no income to speak of. I am obsessed with writing, creating complex characters, conjuring different worlds, and telling a layered story. I am obsessed with the world of art and wine. These are small worlds, tiny domains, where commitment is complete, rewards are uncertain, there is no place to hide, and you have to throw yourself into the deep end to discover what they have to offer.

Sakshi Gallery

Over nearly four decades, Sakshi Gallery has showcased some of India’s most renowned artists. Just as passionately, it nurtures the next generation—offering a vital platform for emerging voices and keeping alive a dynamic, ever-evolving artistic conversation.