Detectives In The Dock : Vaseem Khan's delightful Mumbai detective, Inspector Ashwin Chopra (Retd.) Yes, that's right. He's the one with the elephant!

Chopra grew up in a village in rural India, moved to Mumbai aged 17 to train as a policeman, and has spent 30 years as a police officer in the subcontinent’s ‘city of dreams’. He has seen everything in Mumbai, both the light and dark. 

He is ambivalent about the new wealth flooding the country, and the influence of globalisation which has transformed

places like Mumbai; he is particularly bothered by how vast inequalities persist in the city. He has been married to Poppy for 24 years; they are childless, but this has only brought them closer together. When a baby elephant arrives on their doorstep, at first Chopra has no idea what to do with it... but gradually a bond develops.

The Fields of Wheat moment… What is the most rebellious thing Inspector Chopra has ever done? 

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In the first book The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, Chopra is forced into early retirement (he’s only in his late forties). On his last day, the body of a poor boy arrives in his station. He is told to let it go by his commanding officer in the service. But the boy’s mother castigates him for ignoring the death because they are poor. So Chopra defies his bosses to go off and solve the mystery on his own.

Which 3 items would Chopra bring to a desert island … and why?...

His Holmes-style calabash pipe – he doesn’t smoke, but chews on it when wrapped in the coils of deduction.

·   His book of Gandhiisms – Chopra often turns to Gandhi for wisdom. Gandhi had a quote for all occasions.

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·        
    His watch. Given to him by his late father on Chopra’s wedding day. It rarely works well, but is a symbol of a man he loved and admired, and who taught him that integrity was the most important thing in life.

The Nitty Gritty: The Big Reveal

What secret does Chopra have? 

Chopra is a closet fan of Sherlock Holmes, as played by Basil Rathbone.

What does Chopra hate most? 

Ginger.

What  does Chopra love most? 

Justice. And cricket.

What does he fear most?

Lizards.

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What is his worst trait?

He is inflexible.

What traits Chopra share with you? 

Hatred of ginger, love of cricket.

Is Chopra a secret romantic? 

Yes. He loves his wife deeply, but finds it difficult to express that emotion freely, and certainly never in public.

Does he prefer animals to people? 

He prefers goodness; in people or animals. It’s the reason he eventually bonds with Ganesha, his elephant ward.

How important is justice to him? 

It defines him. In a nation where the rich, the powerful can and do get away with anything up and including murder, Chopra will never take a backwards step in pursuing justice.

If Chopra reads crime, which author would he choose? 
Louise Penny and her wonderful Inspector Armand Gamache series. Gamache is very much like Chopra – calm, unfailingly honest, passionate about the society he sees around him.

In five words describe… 

What his enemies think of him: 

Why is he so damned incorruptible!

His physical appearance:  

Moustache. Roman Nose. Broad shoulders.

All of their favourite things …   

What is Chopra's favourite:                             

                                                                                   

Book            The Pocketbook of Gandhi’s Wisdom                                                          

Animal          Elephant!

Weapon        Revolver                                             

Film              Bollywood potboiler                          

Sport             Cricket                                                

Would your character rather… 

Participate in a  car chase or a shoot out? 

Car chase in his Tata van. With his baby elephant sidekick in the back, hanging on for dear life.

Eat pizza or curry?

You can’t go wrong with a good curry.

Hot or cold climates?

A hot climate. Except during monsoon. When it’s hot and wet.

The fourth book in Khan's Inspector Chopra series will be released on 3th May 2018

Available here