A few hours after his lecture to the South Asian
Journalists Association, Dr Simon Singh is seated in a
garishly lit pizza parlor in midtown Manhattan. As the SAJA
members around him raucously debate politics, he is shy and
reticent, only occasionally offering a comment. Then the
conversation turns to television and suddenly, Singh,
physicist-turned-documentary-filmmaker-turned-bestselling
author breaks into a wide, boyish grin and says, "I love TV.
American TV is wonderful, fantastic."
On first glance, Singh looks much like the stereotypical
scientist he used to be, tall with a slight stoop, checked
shirt under an oversized Mr Rogers-like cardigan, round
glasses perched on an unremarkable face.
But as he begins to talk animatedly, I notice that his hair
is greased into pointy spikes, he is witty and articulate, and
his shyness masks an easy, natural charm. Soon, he has us all
laughing and a few young women in our group start plotting his
marriage.
For all his unassuming appearance, Singh, at 35, has led an
extraordinary life. Once a physicist in England, Singh has
taught at schools in South Africa and India, produced an
award-winning documentary on Fermat's theorem that aired on
Nova, the popular science show. He is also the author of two
books, the bestselling Fermat's Enigma, inspired by his
own documentary, and the newly-released The Code Book.
It offers a peek into cryptography and codes, and takes the
readers from ancient texts through computer encryption,
revealing how codes and ciphers have played key role in
warfare, politics, and royal intrigue. His first book focused
on how a Princeton University professor, Andrew Wiles,
announced in 1993 a solution of 350-year-old theory by Fermat.
After a flaw was discovered in the proof, Wiles had to work
for another year -- he had already labored in solitude for
seven years -- to establish that he had indeed solved the
problem.
Singh was born and raised in a small English community in
the middle of England. His family, farmers from India, moved
there before he was born, and always emphasised the importance
of education. They were proud when he earned his PhD from the
University of Cambridge, Singh recalls, but were a little
surprised when he moved into television and became a director
and producer.
Now that he is a best-selling author, he appears on the
other side of the camera and his parents continue to follow
his career. "They liked it when I was on BBC Breakfast News
(the equivalent of Good Morning America)," Singh says. "And as
their child, of course, their approval means a lot to me."
Singh's hometown had no other south Asian families but the
friendliness of the community and the complete absence of
cultural reminders kept him inured from any sense of
"differentness". It wasn't until he was in his 20's, when he
taught at a Zulu school in Africa that he was suddenly faced
with the tensions of racial politics (initially he was not
allowed to live with the two other white teachers). Still, he
remains largely apolitical and does not make much of his south
Asian identity.
"My parents did try to engender us with an Indian
identity," explains Singh while acknowledging that although he
understands Punjabi, he speaks the language poorly. His
brothers Tom and George (Singh jokes that all three sons were
named for nursery rhymes), and his sister Christine are all
married and their children, he says, have almost no emotional
connection with India. Singh hopes that when he has children,
he will at least be able to give them the choice of being more
tied to India.
The women in our group overhear Singh mention marriage in a
wistful tone and immediately tune in. One animated young woman
even offers to set him up with a friend. Singh, a thoroughly
good sport, laughs and plays along. His modesty surprises all
of us, his self-deprecating humor and disarming vulnerability
reminiscent of that other young British male, so popular with
movie-going audiences. Like the romantic hero played by Hugh
Grant in the hit movie, Notting Hill, Singh too lives
in Notting Hill, a vibrant and colorful neighborhood.
"I live on my own and write on my own," he says. Later, he
explains that as much recognition as his writing has brought
him, the disciplined lifestyle has also isolated him from
friends. "I doubt I'll write another book," he says. "If I
write any more, I might never get married."
Singh meandered his way into writing from science and
television. "When I was young, I always wanted to be a
scientist" he says. Fascinated by the mechanical things his
father showed him, Singh went on to study physics but remained
restless for more. "I realized I could never be a great
scientist so I wanted to try and get other people excited
about science."
He is refreshingly honest about his break into the
television world. "I blatantly lied and expanded my
accomplishments," he admits. "You just need one break to get
in there." Singh spent five years at a BBC magazine show
making documentaries.
Television stories often need a hero, someone who embodies
the spirit of the piece and moves viewers. Andrew Wiles, the
mathematician "hero" of the documentary Singh wanted to make
about Fermat's last theorem, was wary of journalists and had
previously turned down many offers to be interviewed.
Singh knew that without Wiles, there would be no
documentary. So he and his colleague John Lynch wooed Wiles
with careful attention and sensitivity and won his trust.
Wiles, reticent and reluctant to grant interviews at first,
became so comfortable with Singh and his cameraman that at one
point while filming, he started to say of his obsessive quest,
"Nothing I do will ever..." and then broke down crying.
After the documentary was broadcast, Singh became
frustrated with the limitations of television. There were so
many things he could not explain, so many wonderful stories he
could not tell. At a colleague's urging, Singh decided to
expand the documentary into a book.
"The book, Fermat's Enigma (a.k.a Fermat’s Last
Theorem in the UK) is about mathematics, about an ancient
problem, but it's also about obsession, passion and childhood
ambition," he says.
The book's big success gave Singh the cushion he needed to
leave television and get into writing. His current work ,
The Code Book, Singh says, is his "first real effort"
at writing.
Singh's charm is not obvious or flashy and is all the more
persuasive for being subtle. Often, during our conversation
together, he has to be reminded that I am supposed to be
asking him questions.
