A chat with James R. Mancham 13-09-2014 “Many people have often referred to me as the Hemingway of the Indian Ocean” This week, TODAY caught up with the founding President to find out more about the man behind the myth. In this refreshingly candid interview, he tells us about his cooking skills, his favourite tunes and his resemblance to the immortal author of The Old Man and the Sea. What’s your ideal holiday destination? I like to be in a place where the people are friendly and socially accessible. It would have to be in a country which projects an overall positive tone. The environment must be clean and hygienic. I must feel secure and free in my movements. Of course good food would be an additional bonus. What’s the last book you read? The last book I read was in fact a book dedicated to me on the July 25, 2004 by the late Dr. L. M Singhvi entitled “Towards a Good Global Order”. It carried the inscription to “James in affection, admiration and friendship”. It was in fact a collection of essays contributed by eminent experts, scholars and opinion leaders that was produced to honour Dr. L.M. Singhvi whom I had befriended when I was in exile and he was the Indian High Commissioner in London. An eminent scholar, jurist, parliamentarian, social reformer and a humanist. Of course, all these were rolled into one and projected a towering personality. The book had been on my shelf for future reading for many years and I picked it up and started reading one evening after I had worked hard on my new book “Seychelles – the saga of a small nation navigating the cross-currents of a big world”. How do you unwind? I swim as often as I can and I am addicted to reflexology which permits me to relax and to enjoy some reflective moments. I also enjoy a full body massage when it is available. Can you cook? Best dish? Being partly French, partly Chinese and partly Creole how can I not know how to cook? Give me some fresh sea food, a little chilli and other spices and allow me to cook in the old traditional wood fire way and you will tell me about my cooking. My best dish? It is not constant. I love a good curry, I enjoy Peking duck and once in a while a roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. What would you say are your main qualities? I am normally of a generous disposition. Very approachable and often told that I am charming. I guess these are attractive qualities because I do not have too much of a problem making friends. . Are you more of a cat or a dog person? Cats are useful to chase rats, mice and insects in the house but on the whole I am a dog person. We have three dogs but no cats. We brought a cat from London to Seychelles when I returned from exile but one day after we had given hospitality to a lost “sat maron” our imported pedigree cat became jealous and deserted us. Never to be found again. Maybe she decided that the time had come for her to be a “sat maron”. Just like human behaviours are sometimes complex and difficult to understand so is the behaviour of cats What’s your favourite place in Seychelles? Difficult to say. I am by nature somewhat of a restless nomad. I love Mahé but am very happy to spend some time in Praslin or to have a weekend on Denis Island when invited. The world is a beautiful place and Seychelles is a beautiful country. It is only when you are out of it that you fully appreciate what you have left behind. Do you have any hobbies? I used to collect stamps and postcards. I however spend so much time these days writing and reading and there’s not much time left for other hobbies. What annoys you the most about people? I do not like mediocrity nor do I enjoy petty talks of a gossipy nature or people under the influence of drink. What’s your favourite TV series? I enjoy documentaries about countries and the wildlife and the beauty of nature. I avoid any films which lower my human spirit. I hate any film depicting force and violence. What’s your favourite song? I am an eternal romantic and like songs which have a special echo in my cupboard of memories, such as “J’attendrais le jour et la nuit”, “Happy days are here again”, “Que sera sera”, “Forever and ever” and “Blowin’ in the wind”. These types of songs uplift my spirit and make me think that the best is yet to come. What did you dream of becoming when you were growing up? Growing up in a Seychelles that was cut off from the rest of the world, connected by only one or two ships per month, not surprisingly my dream was to become a global citizen and to make the world my village. In the film of your life, who would you choose to play you? The person I would choose is unfortunately not alive anymore. His name is Ernest Hemingway. Many people have often referred to me as the Hemingway of the Indian Ocean and I feel he would portray me well especially as he sported a beard like me and I share some of his philosophy about life. If your house was on fire, what’s the one possession you would save? Naturally I would wish to save my body before anything else. Possessions would mean nothing if you are burnt by the fire. If you could invite three people, dead or alive, to dinner, who would they be? I would prefer t to invite four people instead of three and these would be my departed brothers, Billy, Babi, Mickey and Frank. I miss their company. I often wonder what they are up to up in the heaven above. Nostalgia may not be what it used to be but their memories will never grow old.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 05:54:59 +0000
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