The left wing indulgence of 'Savitri shaming' is deeper than we all think. Let me recollect a conversation from past when I was struggling to get my early draft of Abhaya published.
I approached a certain literary agent who tried to influence my book towards 'left'.+
I approached a certain literary agent who tried to influence my book towards 'left'.+
How his left leaning attitude made me dump the plan to traditionally publish it and instead opt for self publishing is a long story.
There is a Savitri episode in this long story 😊.
I had realised that this guy was trying to game my lack of access to publishing world and+
There is a Savitri episode in this long story 😊.
I had realised that this guy was trying to game my lack of access to publishing world and+
+ use the opportunity to push my story left. So for a few of our sessions, I fought him passively.
In one scene he asked me to think of an 'inspiring' (read rebellious) female character to influence my heroine Abhaya.
I made the father of my heroine tell her story of Savitri+
In one scene he asked me to think of an 'inspiring' (read rebellious) female character to influence my heroine Abhaya.
I made the father of my heroine tell her story of Savitri+
+ He was shocked. I could tell he was shocked. Then he slowly asked me how on earth I thought of Savitri as an inspiring character.
Pretending innocence, I told him see, Savitri faced Yama Dharma Raja for love. Hers is the only story where the 'hero' is the lad in distress+
Pretending innocence, I told him see, Savitri faced Yama Dharma Raja for love. Hers is the only story where the 'hero' is the lad in distress+
+and she is his knight in intellectual armour.
He did not have an answer. He then said your heroine is more of a warrior, so probably some warriorly woman. Such women might not have existed in Mahabharata times. (Seriously dude?) So create one such character and kill her+
He did not have an answer. He then said your heroine is more of a warrior, so probably some warriorly woman. Such women might not have existed in Mahabharata times. (Seriously dude?) So create one such character and kill her+
I researched rigorously and stumbled upon Vishpala ( She would become the subject if my second novel).
He did not like it.
I pushed it saying the way Shivaji Maharaj was influenced by Mahabharata, my heroine is inspired by Vedic women warriors.
Deal breaker 😈
He did not like it.
I pushed it saying the way Shivaji Maharaj was influenced by Mahabharata, my heroine is inspired by Vedic women warriors.
Deal breaker 😈
Of course, he then told me crap like 'if strong women are the norm, then it would challenge the intelligence of the reader and publishers eould not like to publish such a book.
And some more flop advice before I stopped interacting with him.
So there it was+
And some more flop advice before I stopped interacting with him.
So there it was+
My tryst with a world that was allergic to publishing any content that showed India's past in a positive light.
This happenned in 2013.
Took me till end of 2015 to shake off the experience, rewrite everything and go-kindle.
This happenned in 2013.
Took me till end of 2015 to shake off the experience, rewrite everything and go-kindle.
There are times when reviews dont come in or sales dont happen like expected when I feel I was probably a fool to have simply battled this.
But then those are passing issues and I could not be happier doing anything else. So write on. Fight on 😊. The battle is a long one.
But then those are passing issues and I could not be happier doing anything else. So write on. Fight on 😊. The battle is a long one.
