Mahashweta by Sudha Murthy

Published by East West Books (Madras) Pvt. Ltd. Pages: 171

One of the stories in Sudha Murthy's book 'Wise and Otherwise', a collection of the author's articles based on real life incidents, is that of a young man who retracts his engagement to the girl he loves because she had developed leukoderma. He later realizes his folly and marries her, the eye-opener being this book 'Mahashweta'. (The article 'A Wedding to Remember' is also published as Postscript in the edition I read)

That this book inspired a change for good in real lives speaks volumes about the  message it carries. We still live in a society that sets a lot of stock in external beauty, that in this age of information still ostracizes people with certain diseases. Anupama's life turns a full circle from acting in a play titled 'Mahashweta' (based on a work by Bana Bhata) to becoming Mahashweta (meaning White One in sanskrit) in real life. Anupama is an educated, bold, confident girl yet she is aware that the tiny white patch that first appears on her feet could just change her life. But nothing could've prepared her for the reaction of her orthodox in-laws, her vexed father and more than everything else her husband's diffidence and indifference. How she goes on to regain her strength, her vivacious old self despite the despair that surrounds her, which almost pushed her to consider death, is what this story is about.

The character sketches are drawn out well and the circumstances realistic. Yet there are certain dramatic lines that just don't fit with the characters or are plain senseless. Like when Anand says,
'Anu, the other day you gave me tickets and today I am giving you my heart. Please keep it safe.'
What sort of an absurd comparison is this??
Or when he says, ..'Anu, in my blood there is no haemoglobin. There is only a substance called Anupama.'
It's just so film-like and out of place.
And when Anupama worries about her husband's faithfulness it just is not her, it isn't becoming of the sensible girl we've read her to be. 
Her husband was going to an unknown country, and people had been making malicious comments that she could not ignore. 'One can have a wife here and another there as well. It seems white girls are very aggressive', they said. Anupama was afraid that something untoward could happen.

These instances are few, just that one would expect a writer like Sudha Murthy to translate or convey better. The book is written in very simple English, some lines appear like almost a literal translation from Kannada or very Indian-English-ish. But in a book with a strong social message like this I guess the simpler the language the better, for more is the reach and understanding across the society.

Definitely enjoyed reading this book, following the strong female protagonist's journey through misfortunes. Atleast she was equipped with education, what about women from poor, ignorant families who don't even have this lifeline? Hope this book (and many others) will sensitise people regarding their outlook on appearances and this "cosmetic" disease.