Simon Digby (1932-2010) was an Indian-born English historian and noted authority on South Indian history, culture and literature. Simon Digby Talking (1972-75) refers to an encounter Hodgkin had with the scholar. The artist has painted his feelings about the experience, creating an impression of the person, their surroundings and emotional responses. Hodgkin said: "The title is where it starts, the picture is where it ends up".