The twenty-fifth book that I’ve finished reading this year is “Katha: Short Stories by Indian Women”, edited by Urvashi Butalia. This collection explores the wide range of languages and themes that span across India, ranging from the juxtaposition between impoverished Bengali “Rudalis” and the rich families who hire them to cry at gaudy funerals to reflections on the role of an Indian wife in “The Story of a Poem” (Malayalam) and “The Wife” (English). Some stories involve migration to a foreign country, including “March, Ma and Sakura” and one of my favourites, “Mayadevi’s London Yatra”, while others such as “Numoli’s Story” and “Mother” paint vivid landscapes of rural India. As a kaleidoscope of Indian impressions, this collection brought me closer to the intricacies of this exotic country.

As one of the highlights of this collection, Bulbul Sharma’s “Mayadevi’s London Yatra” is a witty depiction of a steely matron preparing for her first and last journey abroad to visit her eldest son, who had migrated to England and never returned due to his phobia of air travel. As the story unfolds, the rock-hard heart of hers finally softens with the kind acts of her British daughter-in-law, culminating at their visit of a large shopping complex, where the old woman, dazzled by the fairy lights, had received a present in her life for the first time. The portrayal of her trance-like bewilderment diverges from her earlier unwavering authority, adding a dynamic touch to her character. Nevertheless, her strong reactions to the shopping complex also implies a large disparity between the development of the two countries, hinting at the imperialist’s exploitation of its former colony.

Another story that caught my eye is Wajida Tabassum’s “Cast-offs”, where a servant’s daughter, Chamki, was destined to wear her master’s cast-offs and told to treat them as blessings. Discontent at this prejudiced treatment, Chamki secretly devises her vindictive plan to leave an eternal “cast-off” to her master on her wedding night. Such sweet revenge! I could not have thought of a better way.

Each story in this collection has its highlights, from the vivid character and family portrayal in Shakti Bhatt’s “The Thief” to the vibrant imagery in Manjula Padmanabhan’s “Teaser”. If you would like to know more about India, especially from the perspective of Indian women, why not help yourself to this short story collection of minority literature?