India, April 4 -- 1How did the idea of the Future Library project originate? I commissioned Katie Paterson to do an art project to transform a harbour in Oslo. Three days later she called me and said, "I have the perfect idea for the public spaces project, but I need to stay in a cabin in the forest first." I offered her one. Afterwards, she came out and said: "This is the work: It's going to last 100 years. We're going to grow a forest, design a special room, and commission an author every year until 2114 to write an unpublished and unread manuscript." We will place them in the room where they will remain. The authors must come to Oslo and walk to the forest. The ritual, which is part of the artwork, is handing over the manuscript among the trees. A hundred years from now, the trees will be turned to paper and all the books printed at the same time. First was Margaret Atwood, and now it is Amitav Ghosh. What fascinates me is that none of us will be around 100 years from now. In a way, the project is about the connection between humans and nature. 2What compelled you to choose Amitav Ghosh as your 12th writer? Amitav is someone we've been following for a long time. What's really nice about him is that he writes both fiction and non-fiction. I also think what he brings to the table is a new kind of world view, as he does in his latest book, Ghost-Eye, where he talks about reincarnation. My grandmother could read hands and coffee cups. I too was trained by my grandfather to find water in the valley, with a stick. I was regarded as a skilled water dowser. This story just came back to me because, through his storytelling, Amitav opens up the non-scientific, the non-linear, and the mysteries that surround us. 3What is the brief given to the writers? They can write whatever they want as long as there are only words. It could even be a grocery list, as Margaret Atwood said. We cannot and shall not know. Although when Han Kang was in Oslo five years ago, she hadn't yet printed her manuscript, so I took her home to print it in my basement. While she was taking a shower, I saw the pages as they came out of the printer, but they were all in Korean, so I couldn't read them. 4The project is about imagining our future. How do you foresee the years to come? We are having problems imagining that future because so many things are at stake now, with issues ranging from climate change to war. Logistically, the project is kept as simple as possible. We only have mechanical boxes and glass. The forest is being maintained. Personally, when I'm thinking about the future, I'm not curious because I know I'll be dead. But I appreciate being part of the process, every year of my life. The project resonates with people around the world because, deep down, we are more alike than we realise. We share similar needs, especially in this moment....