With three books for children under her belt, journalist Shabnam Minwalla is flying high. Her books are a mix of fantasy and realism. The kids in her books are people you can relate to — whether it’s Nivi and Nikhil from The Six Spellmakers of Dorabji Street or Nina from The Shy Supergirl , which was released recently. The Haunting of Model High School , also a recent release, reminded me a bit of the girls from Nalini Das’ Lu Quartet. With two books being released almost back-to-back, Shabnam took time off to answer a few questions. Excerpts from an interview:
To start with, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a mother of three, and it’s the most demanding job I’ve ever done. In the little time that I get away from music practice, maths homework and twisted ankles, I read books and I write. I’m a murder mystery buff and read endless stacks of crime novels. I also write for magazines and newspapers. But what I really, really enjoy is writing books for children. Because here you can add a dash of magic to pep up the bleakest reality.
As a journalist, you covered areas like education, health, arts. What led you to write children’s books?
I wanted to be a journalist since I was 10 years old. So when I finally joined the Times of India in 1993, it was a dream come true. I believe that journalists can make a difference and I wrote many articles that had some impact. For example, my piece on undertrials languishing in jail resulted in a big review of the prisons in Maharashtra. Once I had my daughters, though, legwork and investigative journalism became difficult and I became a stay-at-home mum. As we don’t have a TV, I used to read lots and lots to my girls — from Moin and the Monster to Clever Duck to Mr. Pinkwhistle. I realised that I enjoyed these stories as well. I found, to my surprise, children’s books can give powerful messages about the importance of kindness, tolerance and acceptance.
What kind of books did you like to read as a youngster?
I belong to the generation that grew up on a solid diet of Enid Blyton. I know she is no longer as popular as she once was and many of her books are irritatingly sexist but I enjoyed them and even today feel a thrill when I pick up a copy of The Magic Faraway Tree or read about a midnight feast at Malory Towers.
Why did you make your supergirl a shy person? Was it because you were/are a shy person yourself?
Yes, I’m shy. But also I’ve noticed that quiet people are often unusually observant and thoughtful. Nina is a little girl who can look into the hearts of people and understand them because she sees colours swirling around them. So she can look beyond the clothes and packaging. I felt that such an amazing superpower would make Nina a bit of an outsider.
Strangely, all my books have protagonists who are a little shy. Nina, of course. Then Nivi is a bookworm who believes in magic and has never really had friends till she moves to Mumbai. Lara is also painfully shy and a real “worrypot”.
Why did you setThe Spellmakers of Dorabji Streetin Mumbai? Wouldn't another setting — may be one more environment friendly than a big city — have suited the plot of saving trees?
I’ve lived in Mumbai most of my life. So it seemed natural that my first book should be set in this city. It always bugged me that we grew up believing that it was only possible to encounter magic and mysteries in the Blytonesque English countryside. I want urban Indian children to see that there is beauty and magic even in our crowded, bustling cities; that you can find adventures in the grey corridors of your school and in the tiny garden of your ordinary building. Also, of course, there were two bimbli trees in my building garden when I was growing up and I absolutely adored them. Then they got chopped down while I was studying in the U.S. I was heartbroken and decided to use fiction to create another ending.
Which are your favourites character from your books?
I have a soft spot for my villains. Mrs. Rangachari in The Strange Haunting… is sweet on the outside but really evil within. Whenever I do a book reading, children come up to me and whisper that they know someone just like her. I also enjoy Mrs. Kotadia from The Six Spellmakers who is really the neighbour from hell. Again, someone you are likely to bump into any day of the week.
If you had to pick five favourite books, which ones would you choose?
My favourite question. Anne of Green Gables because Anne is the most enchanting and imaginative little girl in children’s fiction. Just William because William is the naughtiest, scruffiest boy out there. Pride and Prejudice , which I read once a year and enjoy every single time. I love Jane Austen’s gentle wit. A Suitable Boy , which really gives you a sense of India as a young nation; though I was very mad with the ending. Lady in the Lake and any other book featuring my favourite fictional detective, Philip Marlowe.
What is the process by which you write?
The minute my three daughters hop onto the school bus, I rush to the computer. Then, for the next four hours I sit in my pyjamas, down endless cups of tea and write. Often though, I get my ideas when I’m in the car or putting the girls to bed. For example, one evening I was telling my daughters about my school and, in my head I heard a whole lot of girls wailing, “Goooooodmooooorningggand thankkkyouuumissss.” By the next morning I had a vivid picture of Model High School with its grey floors, mustard walls and frowning teachers. I knew immediately that this was going to be the subject of my new book.
