Shobhaa De is one of India's best-selling authors. She is the author of thirteen books all of which have topped bestseller lists in India, where she has revolutionized commercial women's fiction and redefined the mass-market bestseller. She is recognized as an important social commentator and an authority on popular culture. Outspoken and forthright, De chronicles today's India in her own inimitable style.  She founded and edited three popular magazines - Stardust, Society and Celebrity. She is presently a freelance writer and columnist for several newspapers and magazines including the Sunday Times of India, The Week and Bombay Times. She is married with six children and lives in Bombay. Bollywood Nights is her first novel to be published in the UK. “Ms De shocks India, and much of its literary set like no other writer today” New York Times

 

I had the honor of meeting Shobha De at the TIE-Global retreat in Portugal where she was one of the keynote speakers. 

 Meeting her, one can hardly believe she is 64 years old and mother of six children. When asked how she continues to look so young,  â€œI attribute that to being born in the right gene pool” she responds with a charming smile. 

How did her first book come about? “ I had been a columnist for several newspapers. One day the publisher of Penguin books came to my house and suggested that I write a novel.  I was pregnant at that time and could not conceive doing something like that. During the conversation he said – people are not very interested in women’s voices. That immediately caught my attention and I was angered by the comment. So immediately  I decided to write the book to prove him wrong.” The book, Socialite Evenings, was a critical failure but a commercial success. “I received nearly 278 bad reviews for my book.   I had a choice of either giving up writing or to pick up, move on and continue. I did the later”.  Her decision to continue to write was a great one as she rose to becoming one of the best selling authors in India. 

 A highly opinionated columnist, Shobha is never afraid to speak her mind.  Whether it be on topics relating to women’s issues or political issues, Shobha has always things to say.   

In her novel Superstar India – The incredible to Unstoppable she views India over nearly a sixty year period and presents her view on the position of India in the world.  So what is her view of today's India ?“ Since seventy percent of India is under the age of thirty, India is quite restless.  Women are beginning to have great impact are becoming quite the game changers” says De. 

Have the changes been positive for women? “Yes, and yet they have brought challenges. The family support system in India is eroding.  That has caused a big change in the way India works”. 

Shobha values her own family very much. “I have a wonderful set of parents, husband and six children. They are a great source of support for me”

She is also concerned with expectations of a “superwoman” nature being placed on women today where they are expected to do everything. What advice would she have for women today? “Just try to do the best you can. Be fearless and most importantly be true to yourself” says De. 

Watching her carry off a off shoulder short black dress, dancing to the tunes of disco music one is filled with admiration for this woman who has lived her life on her own terms with such grace and dignity and ensured that people are interested and in-fact wanting to listen to a woman’s voice. 

Shobha has now embraced blogging and is an avid blogger.  She is reaching large audiences though her blogs.  How would she like to be remembered? 

“As a person who tried her best to do what she believed in” says De. Surely that is inspirational in itself.