Title: Mahashweta
Author: Sudha Murthy.
Genre: Indian fiction, medical fiction.
Originally published at Book Reviews Galore
Step into the world of leukoderma and understand it complexity, problem and
the various Indian superstitions revolving around it. Before you groan and go
away, let me tell you that this isn't a book a la 'Emperor Of Maladies'(though I
am told it is a fascinating book) but rather a fictional story of the struggles
that a woman suffering leukoderma faces. 'Mahashweta' by Sudha
Murthy, from the synopsis at the back and the glittering praise from well
established newspapers, promises to be a unique read that delves into the
suffering of a disease that afflicts many but doesn't find its way in the
stories. Unfortunately, the novel fails to live up to those promises for which
there are many reasons to which we will get back to later on.
'Mahashweta' is aptly dedicated to women suffering from
leukoderma and urges them to fight and not be oppressed by their disease. The
story begins on a congratulatory note with the birth of a girl child which is a
means to establish the single status of Dr. Anand-the successful, handsome and
rich doctor- who helped give birth to the baby girl. Later while at his work,
Anand is coaxed into buying a Rs. 1000 ticker for a play he has no idea about by
the 'incomparable' Anupama. The play is a love story between Mahashweta and
Pundalik and is part of the book 'Kadambari' written by Bhana Bhatta. Anupama
plays the heroine and as expected Dr. Anand is mesmerized by her beauty and
acting skills. After a few irrelevant incidents, they both get married(how
predictable!) despite the difference in their economic status. It is only after
marriage that Anupama develops a white patch and it begins to spread despite her
clandestine treatment. When her mother-in-law realises this, all hell breaks
loose. She accuses Anupama of having tricked her son into marrying him and
begins to consider her inauspicious because of leukoderma. She eventually
returns to her father's house, disgraced. Her evil stepmother's taunts and ill
treatment just worsens the situation. To top it all, Dr. Anand- being a doctor
at least should know that leukoderma is nothing but a disease and not something
that turns a person inauspicious-also does not support Anupama and abandons her
when she needed him the most. Anupama, however, does not let the circumstances
get the better of her. She bravely decides to go to Mumbai, away from her
callous family and in-laws, to eke out a living and carve a place of her own
free from any pain, stigma and stereotypes. She is quite successful is achieving
her dreams and standing proudly on her own two feet.
'Mahashweta' is a conventional story of the suffering
bravely overcoming their difficult trials and tribulations. The only redeeming
aspect of the story comes at the end when Anupama decides to remain her own
master and be economically independent rather than being bound by someone else's
rules and regulations. Other than this, the novel as a whole is marred by a
fragmented narrative, dollops of stereotypes, amateurish writing, no smooth
narration and a very soap operatic treatment of the entire story. In fact, I
wouldn't be wrong in saying that 'Mahashweta' is a soap opera
in prose style as it has all the prerequisites of one-the constant preoccupation
with marriage, the evil mother-in-law and sister-in-law twist, the evil
stepmother convention, the too good to be true daughter-in-law who suffers
silently, the narrow minded and religious focus of the story at time and the
list is endless.
While Sudha Murthy does take up a relatively lesser known disease to tell
her story, she does not break any new ground on it as the entire novel is
steeped in too many stereotypes particularly about girls and marriage. For eg,
on the first page itself, the nurse who assisted in the birth of the girl
ponders over how the female child is stronger at birth than the male but later
on becomes the one who suffers. The nurse attributes this as being 'a fact of
life' which is not really true because being feminine or masculine is not a fact
of life but rather a cultural construct. The system of patriarchy conditions
women to expect suffering in their life. Anything that is exploited or oppressed
is associated with the female sex. For eg. it is 'mother' earth and never
'father' earth. The novel is replete with such redundant stereotypes. Murthy may
have wished to challenge them but she does not do a good job as she merely
states them with no attempts at challenging them much like any commonplace
Indian soap opera.
Moreover,her writing does not have the emotional depth that is perhaps
required in such a sensitive story. Most of her attempts at philosophy(through
Anupama) are also blunt and shallow.
Although, 'Mahashweta' educates the reader about
leukoderma and the debilitating superstitions that even 'educated' Indians
follow, the novel becomes a drag to read. It reveals the hypocrisy of the Indian
society in their attitudes to leukoderma but does not do so in a profound,
erudite and personal manner.
Final Verdict: It is best to
skip 'Mahashweta' altogether. If you really want to know more
about leukoderma, then contact you nearest dermatologist. Or if you don't have
the time, then just
click here to know more!
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