Author, artist, thorn in the flesh of America's political right and confirmed pan-Asianist M.T. Karthik is taking time to return to his roots in Madras. Preparing to make the first of several trips to India, he will then move on to Portugal before returning to Japan, where he is in self-imposed exile with his wife and 3-year-old son. "It's all to do with making the return home as easy as possible for my family."
In India he will be visiting relatives, finding his feet. In Portugal he will be on the island of Madeira, assisting with an art installation, a retrospective by the artist Rigo 23: " 'Jam Sessions Rigo 84-23' opens Feb. 4. I'll then be back in Kamakura for the next couple of years."
Karthik was politicized at age 8, when his parents -- both scientists -- emigrated to the United States. His father, a high-flying specialist in sulfur reactions, had been appointed professor at a new university in Texas.