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fuzaila's review against another edition
3.0
Sudha Murty knows her audience, and she doesn’t care about them. She bluntly yet bravely shows them what is wrong with their mindsets and in turn makes us question our morals, our innermost trepidations; all the while making the process as simple as possible.
In Mahashweta, we follow Anupama, described to be one of the most beautiful woman one has laid eyes on, fall in love, get married. and her world falling at her feet when she contracts a skin disease Leukoderma, otherwise known as Vitiligo.
Anupama is the daughter of a poor schoolmaster. Anand is a rich doctor. Their match was made in the heavens. But heaven rots to hell for both of them when Anupama discovers her disease. Her rich mother-in-law sends her away to save face, and so does her stepmother. Lost, Anupama heads to Bombay, where she makes a living for herself.
Coming to term with the climax of life, and accepting oneself form a major part of the story, along with moving on from a treacherous past.
THOUGHTS
I have no idea what to think of this book. The message is important and the story is one to behold. Sudha Murty impeccably manages to question yourself and the way of life. The way she has managed to capture the shallow mindset of Indian villagers is new to me. Not many Indian writers try to write out so honestly about their culture and way of life. That is another reason, why this book might appeal more, only to Indian readers. The characters of Anupama and Anand teach us a lesson or two. The character development that takes place within these 150 pages is amazing. And the topic of Vitiligo was handled well, but I do feel, the ‘untold’ story of the rest of the characters should also have been assessed. In the midst of it all, Sudha Murty herself profusely displays her ‘standard’ Indian nature, with the descriptions of beauty and wealth as a domineering aspect of one’s life. Quite hypocritical actually.
Either way, this wasn’t a remarkable book, neither am I going to remember the characters for much long. But this was an important read. I would definitely want to try more of Sudha Murty’s works.
In Mahashweta, we follow Anupama, described to be one of the most beautiful woman one has laid eyes on, fall in love, get married. and her world falling at her feet when she contracts a skin disease Leukoderma, otherwise known as Vitiligo.
Anupama is the daughter of a poor schoolmaster. Anand is a rich doctor. Their match was made in the heavens. But heaven rots to hell for both of them when Anupama discovers her disease. Her rich mother-in-law sends her away to save face, and so does her stepmother. Lost, Anupama heads to Bombay, where she makes a living for herself.
Coming to term with the climax of life, and accepting oneself form a major part of the story, along with moving on from a treacherous past.
THOUGHTS
I have no idea what to think of this book. The message is important and the story is one to behold. Sudha Murty impeccably manages to question yourself and the way of life. The way she has managed to capture the shallow mindset of Indian villagers is new to me. Not many Indian writers try to write out so honestly about their culture and way of life. That is another reason, why this book might appeal more, only to Indian readers. The characters of Anupama and Anand teach us a lesson or two. The character development that takes place within these 150 pages is amazing. And the topic of Vitiligo was handled well, but I do feel, the ‘untold’ story of the rest of the characters should also have been assessed. In the midst of it all, Sudha Murty herself profusely displays her ‘standard’ Indian nature, with the descriptions of beauty and wealth as a domineering aspect of one’s life. Quite hypocritical actually.
Either way, this wasn’t a remarkable book, neither am I going to remember the characters for much long. But this was an important read. I would definitely want to try more of Sudha Murty’s works.
nawaz's review against another edition
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
em_beddedinbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book deals with the sensitive topic of 'vitiligo' and how despite being a harmless condition of depigmentation it destroys lives and hopes and ostracises one from society and friends. A young newly wed beautiful woman is the protagonist who deals with this condition and emerges out a much stronger woman.
ayatichoudhary's review against another edition
5.0
Have you heard of Vitiligo, or more commonly known as Leukoderma? There are more than 1 million cases of Leukoderma in India every year, yet our society stigmatise those women who have this condition. The women with Leukoderma, are often prey to prejudice in the society and are considered as ‘bad omen’.
This novel was first written in Kannada and later, translated into English.
Mahashweta is about Anupama, a well-educated and beautiful girl, but from a poor background. She has lived her life mostly in poverty and has completed her schooling, college studies, solely on scholarships. Her mother left the world while she was just one year old. Her stepmother and two stepsisters never failed to taunt her, but unlike Cindrella, she has a father, who's poor and submissive to his wife. She's a brilliant girl, well versed in drama, literature and history. She's a brilliant actress too, who often performs in college plays, and it was in one such play, Mahashweta, that Anand saw her and fell in love with her. Anand was a guy who was pampered by his mother, rich and immature, who has never seen any hardships and failures in life. Anupama too fell in love with him, and they happily got married, inspite of the difference in status between them. Sounds like a fairytale, right? But here comes the twist! Soon after marriage, Anupama developed Leukoderma and her fairytale marriage falls apart. Her uncaring in-laws, orthodox mother-in-law and immature husband abandons her. She's forced to go back to her father's home in the village, being a financial burden on him. Everywhere, she hears gossips about her and the insensitive society sympathizes with her husband, thinking that he has been decieved into marrying her. Anupama thinks about committing suicide, but that's when her life changes.
What I really liked about this book was it's writing style. The story flowed fluidly like a river, narrating the hardships of Anupama effortlessly. It brilliantly showcases the prejudices that women, who suffer from Leukoderma, have to face in our society. I really loved Anupama's character, who goes ahead with her life, facing many hardships in her way. I admired her strength, her resilience, her self-worth! I fell in love with this book, right from the title and the cover page, and afterwards with the story. I loved how Anupama described herself as a real-life Mahashweta, meaning the white one. I'm in awe of the book after reading the postscript. In the postscript, Sudha Murthy describes how this book changed the perspective of a groom, who was about to break an alliance after his bride developed Leukoderma soon after their engagement. What Sudha Murthy narrated in the postscript is a real-life story, that's the power of a book! This book of merely 150 pages takes you through a tale of strength and inner beauty.
A highly recommended book!
This novel was first written in Kannada and later, translated into English.
Mahashweta is about Anupama, a well-educated and beautiful girl, but from a poor background. She has lived her life mostly in poverty and has completed her schooling, college studies, solely on scholarships. Her mother left the world while she was just one year old. Her stepmother and two stepsisters never failed to taunt her, but unlike Cindrella, she has a father, who's poor and submissive to his wife. She's a brilliant girl, well versed in drama, literature and history. She's a brilliant actress too, who often performs in college plays, and it was in one such play, Mahashweta, that Anand saw her and fell in love with her. Anand was a guy who was pampered by his mother, rich and immature, who has never seen any hardships and failures in life. Anupama too fell in love with him, and they happily got married, inspite of the difference in status between them. Sounds like a fairytale, right? But here comes the twist! Soon after marriage, Anupama developed Leukoderma and her fairytale marriage falls apart. Her uncaring in-laws, orthodox mother-in-law and immature husband abandons her. She's forced to go back to her father's home in the village, being a financial burden on him. Everywhere, she hears gossips about her and the insensitive society sympathizes with her husband, thinking that he has been decieved into marrying her. Anupama thinks about committing suicide, but that's when her life changes.
What I really liked about this book was it's writing style. The story flowed fluidly like a river, narrating the hardships of Anupama effortlessly. It brilliantly showcases the prejudices that women, who suffer from Leukoderma, have to face in our society. I really loved Anupama's character, who goes ahead with her life, facing many hardships in her way. I admired her strength, her resilience, her self-worth! I fell in love with this book, right from the title and the cover page, and afterwards with the story. I loved how Anupama described herself as a real-life Mahashweta, meaning the white one. I'm in awe of the book after reading the postscript. In the postscript, Sudha Murthy describes how this book changed the perspective of a groom, who was about to break an alliance after his bride developed Leukoderma soon after their engagement. What Sudha Murthy narrated in the postscript is a real-life story, that's the power of a book! This book of merely 150 pages takes you through a tale of strength and inner beauty.
A highly recommended book!
smritik's review against another edition
3.0
This rating is for the message this book conveys and its ending. The writing is fairly average.
ash_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Some books leave you with a deep sense of the importance of empathy and kindness. Mahashweta is definitely one such book . The protagonist's story is a unique , inspiring tale of courage and independence that filled me with hope. However the impact the book has made on the real life people that you get to read at the very end of the book is what moved me deep in the recesses of my mind and also made me emotional. Representation matters - that's the synopsis that I would leave this beautiful tale of a real life Mahashweta with ❤️
_aileen_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
theredheded_bibliomaniac's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Brilliant story
Realistic
And hear touching
Also inspiring..
I don't know
I feel more sad
But yeah it is has happy ending kind off
And really good book
In couple of hrs you can read
And a must read ..
Realistic
And hear touching
Also inspiring..
I don't know
I feel more sad
But yeah it is has happy ending kind off
And really good book
In couple of hrs you can read
And a must read ..
navyapindi's review against another edition
4.0
After a long time, a book that I picked up kept me hooked from the very first page. Anupama is such an inspiration to a lot of women out there who suffer in silence. I wish I had read this book sooner. Her character is so heart-touching that we can't help but empathize with her.