Shashi Deshpande, one of the most distinguished contemporary women writers of India, needs no introduction. Born in 1938 in Dharwad, Karnataka, to the famous dramatist and writer Sriranga, Shashi Deshpande studied in Dharwad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Mysuru.
A graduate in Economics and Law, and a post-graduate in English Literature, she has successfully completed a course in journalism, too, and worked as a journalist for a magazine in Mumbai. Her career as a writer started with articles for several magazines, and her short story that was published in 1970.
Legacy, the first collection of her short stories, came out in 1978, while her first novel, The Dark Holds No Terrors, in 1978, and she’s hasn’t looked back since then. Winner of several prestigious awards, this writer of renown has to her credit several children’s books, short stories, novels, and perceptive essays.
When did I realise my passion for writing: I realised it quite late in life, sometime after I began writing. When I knew that this was what I wanted to do, everything else (except my family) didn’t matter much.
What am I most proud of writing: Pride and writing are two words which don’t go together. One is rarely satisfied, let alone proud, with what one has written. But I am proud of the fact that I never gave up in spite of discouragements and obstacles, never compromised.
Book I wish I had written: Thornton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey or E M Forster’s Howard’s End.
Where do I write best: At home, at my table.
Do I have a regular writing routine: Yes, I do. Most regular.
What’s my worst nightmare: Writing stuff which I can’t read myself because it is so embarrassing. Do I watch movies? If so, which is my favourite movie?Not much of a movie fan, but I saw Gone With the Wind 3 times. I guess I can call it my favourite movie.
My all-time favourite read, and my pet author: Jane Austen’s Persuasion and Emma, Charles Dickens’s Bleak House and Our Mutual Friend. Jane Austen.
My best-loved place in Karnataka: It used to be Dharwad. Now I’ve lost touch and it’s not the same.
My relaxing routine: Reading, a cup of tea, crosswords and sudoku during the day, and a walk, TV, and a glass of wine in the evening.
If granted three wishes, what would they be: A peaceful world, peace of mind for myself, and good health for the family.
What music do I enjoy: Hindustani classical, devotional, whether it’s Hindi, Marathi or Kannada, and old film music.
What novel would I give children to introduce them to literature?
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson or Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
The source of inspiration for my books: Life and people.
My chosen cuisine: Simple home-cooked food. Bland vegetarian food.
A sport I’d like to support: Athletics, which is not for competition, but to use the magnificent qualities of the body.
One person I admire: Hmm, that’s difficult. But, in general, people who with their ideas have changed our thinking and our lives. People who have stood against tyrants and wrong beliefs.
A cause dear to my heart: The cause of a fair deal for girls and women.
If not a writer, what would I be: I can’t imagine being anything but a writer.
My life as a writer: Has been absolutely wonderful.
Any regrets?
Yes, that I’ve not yet written the novel with which I am completely happy, which comes out exactly the way I conceived it.