Lasya Shashimohan started writing when she was 14. She says it was her mother’s passion for English that inspired Lasya to study English literature. Now at 31, she has published three books - Nemesis and Multi-facets- an anthology of poems (January 2013), The Search and Other Stories - a series of short stories and novellas for adults (December 2013) and Gold and Datura (January 2015), which is her first full-length novel. The last one she says is a “semi-autobiography”. The writer talks about her passion for books and the characters through an e-mail interview.
How did you get into writing?
I underwent a series of major, complicated surgeries, which also kept me off school for a year. Initially, I was surrounded by friends. Soon they got embroiled in their own schedules and their numbers trickled down to ones and twos, and finally to zero. Bedridden and isolated, I sought solace in books. I started reading voraciously. It was during this time that I discovered my ability to express myself through writing, which was a release and cathartic to my soul. I started out with poetry.
In which form are you comfortable?
I am able to express myself better through prose. Poetry is a more abstract medium, hence it’s more challenging. For me, it started off as experiment and I was taken aback when I found I had written enough verses to compile a full-fledged anthology.
The blurb of ‘ Gold and Datura’ says it’s a semi-autobiography. How close is it to your life? Or how much of you is there in the main character -- Kanak?
I was born with a congenital birth defect called Meningomylocele which is characterised by paralysis of the lower limbs, spina bifida, valgus of the feet. Kanak’s medical history, the trials and tribulations she undergoes as a result of poor infrastructure in India, the limited accessibility, and narrow mind-sets are most definitely mine.
However, while Kanak is blessed with a super high IQ and is beautiful; I have an average IQ with average looks. It is of great frustration to Kanak that society never ever looks beyond her ‘crippled’ body or acknowledges the person inside. She feels her intelligence, beauty and femininity constantly insulted. Also, it pains her tremendously that society (including close family members) does not acknowledge her need for marriage and motherhood like any other woman.
She finally suffers an emotional and spiritual breakdown as a consequence of having been very strong for too long.
But while Kanak gives in to her existential angst and is sucked deep into the dark world of drugs, guns and self-destruction; I remain a good, healthy, squeaky clean, optimistic individual in spite of my ordeals. That way she’s my alter ego.
It’s such a sad story. Why tell another sad story when there is already so much pain in the world.
One believes in realism, and not sugar-coating truth. Many a contemporary writer has held a mirror to the agony and horrors of the world. Take for instance, Khalid Hosseini in The Thousand Splendid Suns and Vikas Swarup in Q&A . The former won much public admiration, and the latter, made into the movie Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle swept many awards.
Mahashwetha Devi’s Draupadi translated into English by Gayathri Chakravorty Spivak also represents stark reality in a powerful manner, which makes one think and ponder about the nature of the human mind. It thrives on acceptance, not escapism.
Only after we reflect on and accept a situation in all its gravity can we take steps to improve it. Gold and Datura is one such attempt — to sensitise the readers of the malaises plaguing India, especially the lamentable plight of its differently-abled citizens. Gold and Daturawas published by Partridge and released across seven countries, including India on January 14, 2015. The book is priced at Rs. 600 .
