Shashi Deshpande is a giant in the world of Indian literature, which she has redefined through her deeply set narratives that play out social issues within the folds of fiction. What also is remarkable is the range of her work which includes novels, short stories and incisive essays that have secured her a place as a writer which unflinchingly looks at the complex issues of human relationships, gender and the which also in time has been reweaving the social tapestry of India.
Early Life and Formative Years
Born into the cultural mecca of Dharwad in 1938, Deshpande was brought up in a very literary setting. She was the second daughter of Sharada Adya and Adya Rangacharya, who was very prominent as a Kannada dramatist and writer. In a home that lived and breathed intellectual discussion and storytelling, her early life was drenched in the written word, which in turn became the base on which her novel-writing career was built. This very alive intellectual upbringing gave her a unique take on story structure, which would go on to define her very successful career.
Academic Pursuits and Foray into Journalism
Deshpande’s academic experience was as varied as her literary one. She went to Bombay (which is now Mumbai) and Bangalore for higher education and obtained degrees in Economics and Law. But it was her affinity for the written word that steered her into a different career. She moved to Mumbai to study journalism at the elite Vidya Bhavan. This career change put her in the journalistic field for a short time, which proved to be very impactful. In journalism, she developed her observation skills, which in turn gave her the critical perspective to study, report on, and comment about social norms.
A Prolific Literary Career
In 1978, Deshpande set out on her literary path with the publication of her first short story collection. Soon after, in 1980, her debut novel, “The Dark Holds No Terror”, came out, which in fact marked the beginning of what was to be a very productive career. Over the years, she has written in many genres, which also include children’s books and critical essays. Notable among her works are ‘Roots and Shadows’, ‘The Binding Vine’ and ‘Small Remedies’.
In 1990, her powerful novel ‘That Long Silence’ got her the very high Sahitya Akademi Award. Also in 2009, she was honoured with the Padma Shri award for her outstanding body of work. Also, her novel ‘Shadow Play’ was a runner-up in The Hindu Literary Prize in 2014, and her 2003 essay collection ‘Writing from the Margin and Other Essays’ is still very much talked about, which puts forth her thought-provoking views on society.
A Champion of Social Consciousness
Deshpande’s body of work is beyond that of a great storyteller; it is a forum for social change. Her work, which is highly acclaimed, puts forth issues of identity and the in-depth issues women face in today’s India. Through her exploration of the psyches and emotions of her characters, she presents a mirror to social expectation and restriction, which in turn provokes the reader to question the present state of affairs.
Unwavering Advocacy and Legacy
Beyond her fiction, which is what she is known for, Shashi Deshpande is a tenacious campaigner for justice and free speech. In 2015, she left the Sahitya Akademi’s general council and gave back her award, which she had received that year, in protest of what was seen as the Academy’s inactivity regarding the killing of M. M. Kalburgi, and was also joined by many other writers in that stand. Also at the Goa Arts and Literature Festival in 2018, she put out a passionate call for the country to look at the partition’s tragedies and also put forth that we should have tolerance and unity between India and Pakistan. Today, Shashi Deshpande is a living legend of Indian literature whose bold words still speak to us and set out to change the way we see the world.
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