In her very first novel, Socialite Evenings, released back in 1989, Shobhaa De managed to ruffle feathers with her unflinching look at the steamy secrets of Mumbai’s glitzy set. Over the two decades since, Shobhaa has managed to raise several eyebrows — both with her tell-it-like-it-is comments on current issues as an esteemed columnist and television panelist, as well as with her no-holds-barred fiction. And after non fiction works that touched on, among other things, India’s journey and advice to couples embarking on the greatest adventure of all (marriage), Shobhaa is back, doing what she does best.
Her latest book, Sethji, was launched at the Tata Literature Live festival on Thursday by festival director Anil Dharker, and the multiple award winning writer was at her spirited best, when speaking to the audience gathered at the Experimental Theatre, NCPA, about her “most provocative book to date”.
“This is my first book with a male protagonist. I had the idea for Sethji 14 years ago but I hadn’t worked on it then. But I thought now was the right time,” said Shobhaa, describing the genesis of what is her 18th book. “I have been working on the book for the past year and a half, that’s when the character of Sethji came to be properly fleshed out. So you could say the character commanded me to write the book,” she added.
Shobhaa said she hoped the book would help readers analyse the political system more closely, especially in light of the 2014 elections. “I think we hardly notice how Sethjis (politicians) play games that impact our lives. The scale and audacity of corruption in the Indian system leaves me aghast. I don’t think in the Indian political system, any one person runs the government. I see anarchy everywhere,”said Shobhaa.