Female voices, fascinating tales
She has authored 16 novels and her books have been translated in 29 languages. Two of her books have made their way to movie theatres across the world. Indian-American authoress, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has penned yet another book, Oleander Girl.
So what is this new book about? “Oleander Girl is a coming of age story. It follows a mythic structure, that is, the hero’s journey in search of parentage or self. A major theme in the book is the clash between old and new values. Another is the cost of intolerance, both religious and racial,” she says.
The protagonist of the book is an 18-year-old girl called Korobi Roy who finds herself on a troubled search across post 9/11 US after her grandfather’s sudden death. Chitra says she can relate to Korobi’s mother Anu in a way. “Like Anu, I found myself in a very different and exciting world, one that tested my allegiance to family values,” she adds.
Speaking on writing women-centric books, she says, “I understand them and respect the challenges they face and the dreams they dare to dream. I think it is important — more now than ever, in view of the recent cases of violence against women — to portray them as thinking, feeling, and courageous-though-flawed beings at the centre of a fictional universe.”
Chitra says that she has learned from many multi-cultural American female voices such as, Maxine Hong Kingston, Sandra Cisneros, Louise Erdritch, Toni Morrison and Cristina Garcia to create scenes, portray controversial subjects, fashion strong, multi-dimensional characters, and be proud to present Indian themes.
Even though she has always been inspired by her mother, Chitra has also been influenced from working closely with Mother Teresa. “In Kolkata, I volunteered with Mother Teresa in her orphanage, Shishu Bhavan. She was a small woman who embodied the joy that comes out of helping others. She taught me compassion. I hope some of that emerges through my books and my life,” she says.
Though hailing from Kolkata, Chitra has been living in USA for many years but she hasn’t forgotten her roots. “My Kolkata roots will always endure, I think,” she says.
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