Hall of femme

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In 1996, when Canadian-American novelist Shauna Singh Baldwin wanted to get her first collection of short stories, English Lessons and Other Stories, printed, the publishers told her that no one in India wanted to read about women. Now, with her sixth book, The Selector Of Souls out, the author says both the Indian readers and women, have come a long way.

She, of course, like many other authors who time and again have managed to bring out the subdued agony of injustice against women, has been at the centre of this change. “My mantra in writing has always been to challenge myself and the readers to think how would they react to a particular situation when no one is watching,” says Shauna.
She continues, “Many people ask me why I always write about the conventions that curtail the lives of Indian women. And I always answer that I would rather highlight the struggle and determination with which Indian women have won their rights and are still fighting,” says Shauna.
For Shauna being a feminist is all about connecting with other human beings at the sub-conscious level. And, for her, the fight for equality does not end with just men and women but Shauna insists, even the inequalities between castes and religions need to be addressed.
Her latest book, The Selector of Souls, set in 1990s India, revolves around how a Hindu midwife and a nun overcome their differences so the baby girl is born. Shauna tells a story of two fascinating, strong-willed women who have to confront the relentless logic forced upon them by survival.
Many call her book a kind of fiction that tells the truth, or rather a dis-fiction! Shauna says that she draws inspiration from Indian women authors like Kamala Markandaya and Amrita Malik. “I like going back to these women writers from India. There is a lot to understand in what they have said and learn from them. I also like to read old issues of Manushree magazine,” says Shauna.
Though literature by women always interested her, Shauna never planned to write on women-related issues. It just happened, says Shauna. “The stories of women I came across inspired me to become a writer. I wanted to tell those stories. I could feel their pain and anguish, and so many times I fell in love with these stories. I love to write about female characters, they are so layered and complicated that I am always left with a feeling as if there is more to explore,” says Shauna.
The author travels extensively for research before writing a book. From small lanes in Himachal Pradesh to the crowded streets in Karachi, Shauna has her bag full of stories of women who are always under scrutiny for their chastity, deprived of their rights, pressured to give birth to sons and other social taboos. In the end, as Shauna seems to be going strong with her writing, what kind of reactions does she get from male readers? “That depends not on the book but what kind of man is reading my book,” laughs Shauna.