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Mahashewta
Anupama looked into the mirror and shivered with shock. A small white patch had now appeared on her arm.' Anupama's fairytale marriage to Anand falls apart when she discovers a white patch on her foot and learns that she has leukoderma. Abandoned by her uncaring in-laws and insensitive husband, she is forced to return to her father's home in the village. The social stigma of a married woman living with her parents, her steother's continual barbs and the ostracism that accompanies her skin condition force her to contemplate suicide. Determined to rebuild her life against all odds, Anupama goes to Bombay where she finds success, respect and the promise of an enduring friendship. Mahashweta is an inspiring story of courage and resilience in a world marred by illusions and betrayals. This poignant tale offers hope and solace to the victims of the prejudices that govern society even today.
162 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2007
392 people are currently reading
5165 people want to read
About the author
Sudha Murty
179 books2,986 followersSudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written nine novels, four technical books, three travelogues, one collection of short stories, three collections of non-fiction pieces and two books for children.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 484 reviews
November 23, 2025
“Of the thousands of flowers that blossom on a tree, only a few will bear fruit. And out of those few fruits, insects and squirrels will eat some. The tree does not keep anything for itself. Does that mean that the life of the tree is wasted?"
This book is about Vitiligo, a very sensitive topic. It depicts a woman's inner strength as she discovers herself in the best way she can when no one is there to assist her. This is one of the few books that will make you cry or make you reconsider your position on certain societal issues and taboos. It acts as a reality check for us, despite the fact that it is a very simple and wonderfully written work. Compassion, empathy, unconditional love, and friendship are basic human feelings that are sometimes forgotten in the midst of daily life and family obligations.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
This book is about Vitiligo, a very sensitive topic. It depicts a woman's inner strength as she discovers herself in the best way she can when no one is there to assist her. This is one of the few books that will make you cry or make you reconsider your position on certain societal issues and taboos. It acts as a reality check for us, despite the fact that it is a very simple and wonderfully written work. Compassion, empathy, unconditional love, and friendship are basic human feelings that are sometimes forgotten in the midst of daily life and family obligations.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
April 10, 2022
One of my closed friend recommended me this book. I am so glad she did it. she is fan of Sudha Murthy.
This story is about main character who have leukoderma. When i was reading this book. I literally got chills. It was so overwhelming. It reminds us not to judge person by his/ her face and shows that everyone has beauty hidden beneath. Its a very strong story that touches the heart. I read the whole story in a single day. This story is combination of grit and determination of a woman to live her life. In a way it also show us the mirror of what our society is. Hopefully one day this society will change. Everyone just wants to be needed and loved.
This story is about main character who have leukoderma. When i was reading this book. I literally got chills. It was so overwhelming. It reminds us not to judge person by his/ her face and shows that everyone has beauty hidden beneath. Its a very strong story that touches the heart. I read the whole story in a single day. This story is combination of grit and determination of a woman to live her life. In a way it also show us the mirror of what our society is. Hopefully one day this society will change. Everyone just wants to be needed and loved.
July 20, 2021
‘Mahashweta’ is based on a very sensitive subject - Vitiligo. The story is poignant and expressed in very simple language by Sudha Murthy. In this story, she clearly explains how insensitively our society behaves towards a person who is suffering from Vitiligo, educated or not!
Dr Anand falls head over heels in love with beautiful Anupama when he sees her for the first time and soon marries her. Later Anand flies to England for his higher studies leaving Anu behind, telling her to join him, meanwhile, Anu is diagnosed with leukoderma/ Vitiligo. All alone with no one to take care of her, she seeks emotional support and soothing words from Anand. Being a doctor himself she has full faith in him, but all she gets in return is his aloofness. Her faith is tested in every step from there on, neither she is allowed to live peacefully in her in-law's place nor her parents. That is when she takes her life into her own hands and decides to live independently without any inhibitions and succeeds in the end.
Though the ending is not ‘happy-ever-after nevertheless it is inspiring and uplifting enough.
https://varshasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
Dr Anand falls head over heels in love with beautiful Anupama when he sees her for the first time and soon marries her. Later Anand flies to England for his higher studies leaving Anu behind, telling her to join him, meanwhile, Anu is diagnosed with leukoderma/ Vitiligo. All alone with no one to take care of her, she seeks emotional support and soothing words from Anand. Being a doctor himself she has full faith in him, but all she gets in return is his aloofness. Her faith is tested in every step from there on, neither she is allowed to live peacefully in her in-law's place nor her parents. That is when she takes her life into her own hands and decides to live independently without any inhibitions and succeeds in the end.
Though the ending is not ‘happy-ever-after nevertheless it is inspiring and uplifting enough.
https://varshasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
July 28, 2012
Started reading this book wondering whats the meaning of "Mahashweta ".....
This book portraits the inner strength of a woman who discovered herself in the best way she could when no one was there to give her a helping hand, not even her so called husband who was desperate to make her his own for the rest of his life......
After finding that the lady is suffering from leukoderma, he did not give a second thought on thinking to be with her as he should have.....Definitely inspiring, loved every word of this book.
Sudhamurthy continues her journey showcasing every bit of human's realistic characters....Thumbs Up!!!
This book portraits the inner strength of a woman who discovered herself in the best way she could when no one was there to give her a helping hand, not even her so called husband who was desperate to make her his own for the rest of his life......
After finding that the lady is suffering from leukoderma, he did not give a second thought on thinking to be with her as he should have.....Definitely inspiring, loved every word of this book.
Sudhamurthy continues her journey showcasing every bit of human's realistic characters....Thumbs Up!!!
January 26, 2018
Sudha Murty knows her audience, and she doesn’t care about them. She bluntly yet bravely shows them what is wrong with their mindsets and in turn makes us question our morals, our innermost trepidations; all the while making the process as simple as possible.
In Mahashweta, we follow Anupama, described to be one of the most beautiful woman one has laid eyes on, fall in love, get married. and her world falling at her feet when she contracts a skin disease Leukoderma, otherwise known as Vitiligo.
Anupama is the daughter of a poor schoolmaster. Anand is a rich doctor. Their match was made in the heavens. But heaven rots to hell for both of them when Anupama discovers her disease. Her rich mother-in-law sends her away to save face, and so does her stepmother. Lost, Anupama heads to Bombay, where she makes a living for herself.
Coming to term with the climax of life, and accepting oneself form a major part of the story, along with moving on from a treacherous past.
THOUGHTS
I have no idea what to think of this book. The message is important and the story is one to behold. Sudha Murty impeccably manages to question yourself and the way of life. The way she has managed to capture the shallow mindset of Indian villagers is new to me. Not many Indian writers try to write out so honestly about their culture and way of life. That is another reason, why this book might appeal more, only to Indian readers. The characters of Anupama and Anand teach us a lesson or two. The character development that takes place within these 150 pages is amazing. And the topic of Vitiligo was handled well, but I do feel, the ‘untold’ story of the rest of the characters should also have been assessed. In the midst of it all, Sudha Murty herself profusely displays her ‘standard’ Indian nature, with the descriptions of beauty and wealth as a domineering aspect of one’s life. Quite hypocritical actually.
Either way, this wasn’t a remarkable book, neither am I going to remember the characters for much long. But this was an important read. I would definitely want to try more of Sudha Murty’s works.
In Mahashweta, we follow Anupama, described to be one of the most beautiful woman one has laid eyes on, fall in love, get married. and her world falling at her feet when she contracts a skin disease Leukoderma, otherwise known as Vitiligo.
Anupama is the daughter of a poor schoolmaster. Anand is a rich doctor. Their match was made in the heavens. But heaven rots to hell for both of them when Anupama discovers her disease. Her rich mother-in-law sends her away to save face, and so does her stepmother. Lost, Anupama heads to Bombay, where she makes a living for herself.
Coming to term with the climax of life, and accepting oneself form a major part of the story, along with moving on from a treacherous past.
THOUGHTS
I have no idea what to think of this book. The message is important and the story is one to behold. Sudha Murty impeccably manages to question yourself and the way of life. The way she has managed to capture the shallow mindset of Indian villagers is new to me. Not many Indian writers try to write out so honestly about their culture and way of life. That is another reason, why this book might appeal more, only to Indian readers. The characters of Anupama and Anand teach us a lesson or two. The character development that takes place within these 150 pages is amazing. And the topic of Vitiligo was handled well, but I do feel, the ‘untold’ story of the rest of the characters should also have been assessed. In the midst of it all, Sudha Murty herself profusely displays her ‘standard’ Indian nature, with the descriptions of beauty and wealth as a domineering aspect of one’s life. Quite hypocritical actually.
Either way, this wasn’t a remarkable book, neither am I going to remember the characters for much long. But this was an important read. I would definitely want to try more of Sudha Murty’s works.
August 12, 2012
Seldom do you come across a piece of fiction which leaves you in tears; still leaving a feeling of admiration and awe for the virtuosity and strength of character displayed by the protagonists. Well, Mahashweta is one such of those rare, "blink and you may miss it" kind of classics. A beautiful and touching story about how when it rains, it really pours and all that you can do is weather out the storm. All the characters are ideally portrayed in their natural habitat: their masks thrown aside. Its a story which leaves you thinking long, long after you turn the last page, and the author's post script just makes up for all the tears you may have shed while rounding off the last words of the narration. The Author, Book and main protagonist are aptly described by just one word. Anupama: Incomparable.
July 18, 2020
Two years back I picked the book of Sudha Murthy and title was “How I taught my Grandmother to read” It was kind of anthology. Non- fictional stories author had taken from his own life. There were emotions, simplicity, self-made characters and most important thing hidden messages. I loved the book and fell in love with writings of Sudha Murthy. After months I got chance to read her fictional work “House of Cards” and loved it to the core. The way author weaved the strong story line around characters was outstanding.
Past day I read her most book, titled “Mahashweta” I was curious when I started the book as I knew author not only writes fiction but somewhere she strengthens the personality of readers via her characters. And that what’s the real teachers do. They teach you life’s most important lessons which enveloped into stories, giving us examples how one reacts in particular situaltion. And I’m announcing happily Surdha Murthy Ji is incomparable into that.
If we talk about the basic story line, actually it is a thought provoking novella, in which the protagonist was a girl, named Anupama. Her family was not financially strong but her beauty and her prominent character directed her to world of art, she started doing theatre where she met her hero, Dr. Anand. They got married but somehow Fate played a cruel role and the person her husband who convinced anupama that he would love her the most…come what may, left her in the middle of world. Then story revolved around her struggle how she enabled herself to cope up all this obstacles. At last when her husband come to her but…. Hey You …Read the novel. Don’t let me spoil the whole story.
It is example of good literary fiction. I’m bit late though it is Highly Recommended!
Blog Link: https://soundingwords.blogspot.com/20...
Past day I read her most book, titled “Mahashweta” I was curious when I started the book as I knew author not only writes fiction but somewhere she strengthens the personality of readers via her characters. And that what’s the real teachers do. They teach you life’s most important lessons which enveloped into stories, giving us examples how one reacts in particular situaltion. And I’m announcing happily Surdha Murthy Ji is incomparable into that.
If we talk about the basic story line, actually it is a thought provoking novella, in which the protagonist was a girl, named Anupama. Her family was not financially strong but her beauty and her prominent character directed her to world of art, she started doing theatre where she met her hero, Dr. Anand. They got married but somehow Fate played a cruel role and the person her husband who convinced anupama that he would love her the most…come what may, left her in the middle of world. Then story revolved around her struggle how she enabled herself to cope up all this obstacles. At last when her husband come to her but…. Hey You …Read the novel. Don’t let me spoil the whole story.
It is example of good literary fiction. I’m bit late though it is Highly Recommended!
Blog Link: https://soundingwords.blogspot.com/20...
January 31, 2016
A nice way to let people know about leukoderma and the social stigma that comes with it. We Indians are the worst lot sometimes. Related so much with the book and the cause Mrs. Murthy wanted to express.
October 18, 2020
Racism, the term we used to hear from the westerners, who hates the ones who were darker than them. But this term exists all over the world in a different name and feature. In India, people with dirty mindset who thinks some disease as curse of god and isolates people, this is also dangerous than Racism. India is unfortunately the birth place of people with this kind of mindset.
Mahasweta, even if it is a fictional story of a woman who affected with Luekoderma, it actually tells the real story of 1000s of individuals with Luekoderma or similar conditions.
Sudha Murty beautifully portraits the life of a girl and how her life changes drastically with a mere pigment change in her skin. For a female, marriage and giving birth is not the ultimate objective. She needs to be independent without the help of men. Anupama, despite of all her setbacks she tried to be Optimistic and lives a life which inspires many.
Mahasweta, even if it is a fictional story of a woman who affected with Luekoderma, it actually tells the real story of 1000s of individuals with Luekoderma or similar conditions.
Sudha Murty beautifully portraits the life of a girl and how her life changes drastically with a mere pigment change in her skin. For a female, marriage and giving birth is not the ultimate objective. She needs to be independent without the help of men. Anupama, despite of all her setbacks she tried to be Optimistic and lives a life which inspires many.
August 10, 2020
Although the plot of the book and the issue it focuses on is unique and well put, I am terribly disappointed with myself for picking up this read.
Sudha Murthy's language is juvenile and melodramatic. The story is irrational, almost like a Bollywood movie. She is extremely judgmental many times and everything about the book is dull and obnoxiously boring.
It is so-fucking preachy that I found it hard to wrap my head around the sentences and the meaning that they portrayed. For a woman of dignity like Sudha Murthy, the characters that were presented to be shady seemed weird and I ended up wondering how she might be in her real life?
Kidding you not, at one point, she literally slut shames a character who has an affair before marriage and gets married to someone else.
Really? *SMH*
Swearing off Sudha Murthy for life.
Sudha Murthy's language is juvenile and melodramatic. The story is irrational, almost like a Bollywood movie. She is extremely judgmental many times and everything about the book is dull and obnoxiously boring.
It is so-fucking preachy that I found it hard to wrap my head around the sentences and the meaning that they portrayed. For a woman of dignity like Sudha Murthy, the characters that were presented to be shady seemed weird and I ended up wondering how she might be in her real life?
Kidding you not, at one point, she literally slut shames a character who has an affair before marriage and gets married to someone else.
Really? *SMH*
Swearing off Sudha Murthy for life.
May 16, 2014
A 1000 episode'd mega-serial kind of story.
Sweet-cute-super-gorgeous but poor Anupama and handsome - WellToDo Back-grounded doctor Anand ends up starting their life in a fairy-tale marriage. Anand leaves to England for higher studies while Anupama discovers white patches on her leg. She finds out that she has been affected by Leukoderma or Vitiligo. Cure for this disease varies from person to person and she's seriously affected. Abondaned by her husband & in-laws disheartened Anupama leaves to her village. Nobody is supportive to her there at her village. She meets curses and rumours about her ownself everyday. She leaves to Mumbai to her friend Sumithra's home & stabilizes herself with a job. Her good heart and quick wit earns the love of people to her. She meets with an accident and there at the hospital she befriends sensible Dr. Vasanth. All goes well and Vasanth proposes her to marry him. She understands that Vasanth's love is born out of the sympathy towards her. At the same time, Anand finds her and convinces her to join him. Once, her world revolved around Anand. But its all different now. She bravely disagrees. She walks out of all emotional strings and continues to maintain a healthy but kinda secluded relationship with people.
I've heard a lot about Sudha murthy's works but I'm really disappointed with this book. This novel, being the first read for me from Sudha Murthy's writings, I had lot of expectations. The story dragged here and there with pages filled with dramatic scenes. Yes, the informations about sanskrit plays were interesting. But it was an usual story-line with no twists and turns. Bores the reader with monotonic phase :(
Sweet-cute-super-gorgeous but poor Anupama and handsome - WellToDo Back-grounded doctor Anand ends up starting their life in a fairy-tale marriage. Anand leaves to England for higher studies while Anupama discovers white patches on her leg. She finds out that she has been affected by Leukoderma or Vitiligo. Cure for this disease varies from person to person and she's seriously affected. Abondaned by her husband & in-laws disheartened Anupama leaves to her village. Nobody is supportive to her there at her village. She meets curses and rumours about her ownself everyday. She leaves to Mumbai to her friend Sumithra's home & stabilizes herself with a job. Her good heart and quick wit earns the love of people to her. She meets with an accident and there at the hospital she befriends sensible Dr. Vasanth. All goes well and Vasanth proposes her to marry him. She understands that Vasanth's love is born out of the sympathy towards her. At the same time, Anand finds her and convinces her to join him. Once, her world revolved around Anand. But its all different now. She bravely disagrees. She walks out of all emotional strings and continues to maintain a healthy but kinda secluded relationship with people.
I've heard a lot about Sudha murthy's works but I'm really disappointed with this book. This novel, being the first read for me from Sudha Murthy's writings, I had lot of expectations. The story dragged here and there with pages filled with dramatic scenes. Yes, the informations about sanskrit plays were interesting. But it was an usual story-line with no twists and turns. Bores the reader with monotonic phase :(
December 16, 2015
Simplicity has always been a speciality of Sudha Murthy's writings.
In the simplest of the words she always conveys the message to lead a meaningful life.
Through this book, Author narrates the story of a very beautiful Woman named Anupama who is from a middle class family. A wealthy doctor named Anand gets attracted to her because of her beauty and theatre skills. They eventually got married. Anand went to abroad for further study. One fine day Anupama saw an unfortunate white spot on his skin on her leg, eventually such spots starts showing up on her hands and other body parts. Anand’s mother made Anupama’s life hell by her tantrums and her nastiest behaviour because of her disease and eventually Anupama’s father took her back to his home in the village.
Not able to withstand the circumstances of helplessness, Anupama decided to lead her life in a meaningful way and moved to Mumbai.
As I read the further story, I grow immense liking for Anupama and my hatred rose for Anand as well. The way Anupama transformed her life was truly commendable. Hats off to her spirit and her way of leading a eloquent life after going through such tragic past. One must read this book to know about the rest.
A highly recommended inspiring read for every reader.
In the simplest of the words she always conveys the message to lead a meaningful life.
Through this book, Author narrates the story of a very beautiful Woman named Anupama who is from a middle class family. A wealthy doctor named Anand gets attracted to her because of her beauty and theatre skills. They eventually got married. Anand went to abroad for further study. One fine day Anupama saw an unfortunate white spot on his skin on her leg, eventually such spots starts showing up on her hands and other body parts. Anand’s mother made Anupama’s life hell by her tantrums and her nastiest behaviour because of her disease and eventually Anupama’s father took her back to his home in the village.
Not able to withstand the circumstances of helplessness, Anupama decided to lead her life in a meaningful way and moved to Mumbai.
As I read the further story, I grow immense liking for Anupama and my hatred rose for Anand as well. The way Anupama transformed her life was truly commendable. Hats off to her spirit and her way of leading a eloquent life after going through such tragic past. One must read this book to know about the rest.
A highly recommended inspiring read for every reader.
May 2, 2011
This a Must Read Book for Everyone.I Started this book as a leisure read, but as pages passed,i realised this,was not just a pageturner.
I was Awe-struck by the character of the protagonist and though the book looks simple in its language and story, the values it indented, Phew!! The book is not about Modern Women, Urban Life, its not about rustic people rather its about Everything in Life. I read this books only for three hours and this would definetly stick to my heart for ages.
Ms.Murthy Million hats off to you.
Please add to your Cart, If you Haven't yet.
I was Awe-struck by the character of the protagonist and though the book looks simple in its language and story, the values it indented, Phew!! The book is not about Modern Women, Urban Life, its not about rustic people rather its about Everything in Life. I read this books only for three hours and this would definetly stick to my heart for ages.
Ms.Murthy Million hats off to you.
Please add to your Cart, If you Haven't yet.
April 26, 2009
I am fan of Sudha Murthy. Dollar Bahu and then this one, extremely Indian novels and this shows how in-depth knowledge Mrs Murthy has and how good she preserves the Indian values. Touching such issues needs skill, determination and dedication. A must read by every Indian.
May 2, 2012
The name struck me first......and i love Sudha Murty as an author. its simple and beautiful. loved Mahashweta and the last line hit me most.
October 31, 2020
Its a story of indomitable spirit of a girl suffering from a skin disease, how she doesn't give up living and learns to survive in a world that values looks above all .
February 22, 2018
OK. Let me confess. I have this bitter prejudice towards ‘celebrity’ authors. But you will understand my prejudice if you look around the current literary scenario. These days any celebrity can lend their initials – literally – to the brainchild of somebody else and smugly enjoy all the accolades and royalties for someone else’s efforts. How else can you explain it, when a fast-bowler, known more for off-field antics than on-field heroics, one who cannot even write a proper tweet without making himself a butt of jokes, suddenly writes a ‘memoir’ (!) and rakes in the moolah?!
Sudha Murty was one author whose works I had shunned for so long due to this same prejudice. I thought of her as someone who was making hay as the sun shined – hogging limelight more for her being the spouse of Narayanamurty, the legendary founder of Infosys, than for her own literary prowess. This book proved me wrong completely. This book is a flowing tale of a female protagonist, who gets shunned by all and sundry, including the man who ‘loved’ and married her, for the only reason that she has started developing white patches on her skin.
Anupama is your quintessential Indian heroine, her beauty sans pareil, her intelligence of highest order, everything about her good and lovely. The only defect about her is her poverty. Anand is an equally charming, equally brilliant, but abundantly rich hero, who falls in love at first sight with our heroine. Then come the typical step-mother and the equally typically incapable father of Anupama. On Anand’s side are his mother, who is bent on flaunting her social status, and an arrogant sister. When Anand from high-society falls in love with Anupama, they get married without any trouble. While everything seems to be going in Anupama’s favor, she develops ‘leukoderma’, which results in her developing white patches on skin. As could be expected, she gets shunned by her in-laws, with her husband proving to be utterly uncaring. Returning to her maternal home, she gets ill-treated by her step-mother as could be expected. While on the verge of killing herself, she has her epiphany and decides to take charge of her life. Was she able to rebuild her life? Did she find the overcome the ‘stigma’ of skin deformity in a society obsessed with mere external beauty? The book answers these questions.
The tale is written in a simple, flowing, interesting manner. But nothing about the book feels original. The events all remind you of those sad Indian movies of 1950s and 60s. The end is, again, not much convincing or, as modern-day ‘feminists’ might say, ‘ground-breaking’. Also the claim that there is a similar novel with the same name, written by Marathi author Sumati Kshetramade, leaves a not-so-pleasant taste in the mouth.
This book is a nice read, but nothing much can be taken from this.
Mahashweta – mixed emotions!
Sudha Murty was one author whose works I had shunned for so long due to this same prejudice. I thought of her as someone who was making hay as the sun shined – hogging limelight more for her being the spouse of Narayanamurty, the legendary founder of Infosys, than for her own literary prowess. This book proved me wrong completely. This book is a flowing tale of a female protagonist, who gets shunned by all and sundry, including the man who ‘loved’ and married her, for the only reason that she has started developing white patches on her skin.
Anupama is your quintessential Indian heroine, her beauty sans pareil, her intelligence of highest order, everything about her good and lovely. The only defect about her is her poverty. Anand is an equally charming, equally brilliant, but abundantly rich hero, who falls in love at first sight with our heroine. Then come the typical step-mother and the equally typically incapable father of Anupama. On Anand’s side are his mother, who is bent on flaunting her social status, and an arrogant sister. When Anand from high-society falls in love with Anupama, they get married without any trouble. While everything seems to be going in Anupama’s favor, she develops ‘leukoderma’, which results in her developing white patches on skin. As could be expected, she gets shunned by her in-laws, with her husband proving to be utterly uncaring. Returning to her maternal home, she gets ill-treated by her step-mother as could be expected. While on the verge of killing herself, she has her epiphany and decides to take charge of her life. Was she able to rebuild her life? Did she find the overcome the ‘stigma’ of skin deformity in a society obsessed with mere external beauty? The book answers these questions.
The tale is written in a simple, flowing, interesting manner. But nothing about the book feels original. The events all remind you of those sad Indian movies of 1950s and 60s. The end is, again, not much convincing or, as modern-day ‘feminists’ might say, ‘ground-breaking’. Also the claim that there is a similar novel with the same name, written by Marathi author Sumati Kshetramade, leaves a not-so-pleasant taste in the mouth.
This book is a nice read, but nothing much can be taken from this.
Mahashweta – mixed emotions!
June 26, 2020
One of the best books on women power. There is a pattern I observe in the author's books I've read so far. Though the protagonists are from rural India with high cultural values, they are never shown dependent or submissive to the male dominated society. No matter what they go through in this society, they have always taken a stand for themselves and stayed there till the end. The end of the story has a certain kind of feeling of relief, a feeling of freedom and inner happiness. That, we, as girls are self sufficient and strong enough to take care of ourselves. With this kind of storyline, I hardly judge the other parameters in a novel like language and character built up etc. Language used is pretty simple but the storyline is the best.
January 13, 2021
What is it with Indian authors and falling in love at first sight? The story was boring, monotonous and predictable from the very first page. The book tried to deal with men only caring about beautiful wives and families wanting pure daughter in laws. But it could have been done with better plot. There was neither breaking the stereotypes related to the disease nor a good closure to their marriage or their so called love. I didn't like the story at all but it tried to give a message in some plain words. But it could have been a lot better with a good story line.
September 8, 2020
This book was plagiarized as the same plot already exists with the same name 'Mahashweta' in Marathi. How can such a well known author Sudha Murthy blatantly copy another's work, I wonder.
September 19, 2020
3.5/5
This is my first Sudha Murthy book! I had been meaning to read her for a long time. I picked up 'Mahashweta' at the airport recently after really liking the synopsis. I thought it would be an empowering story about a woman realising her true worth, and it turned out to be exactly that. I loved the character development that the protagonist, Anupama, went through in just 150 pages. Her journey left me feeling good and empowered.
Mrs. Muthy's writing is lucid and gripping. I finished the book in a few hours.
The story, however, is like a fairytale - predictable and sometimes 'extreme'. It was full of familiar tropes, and I didn't like how everyone, including Anupama herself, considered Anupama to be morally superior because she was "pure" before marriage. It is probably just a generational thing, so it may not bother every reader.
I would still consider 'Mahashweta' a good introduction to Sudha Murthy's literature in my mid-20s. Her simplistic, feel-good stories are a welcome change from the difficulties of life. I am curious to read more of her books.
This is my first Sudha Murthy book! I had been meaning to read her for a long time. I picked up 'Mahashweta' at the airport recently after really liking the synopsis. I thought it would be an empowering story about a woman realising her true worth, and it turned out to be exactly that. I loved the character development that the protagonist, Anupama, went through in just 150 pages. Her journey left me feeling good and empowered.
Mrs. Muthy's writing is lucid and gripping. I finished the book in a few hours.
The story, however, is like a fairytale - predictable and sometimes 'extreme'. It was full of familiar tropes, and I didn't like how everyone, including Anupama herself, considered Anupama to be morally superior because she was "pure" before marriage. It is probably just a generational thing, so it may not bother every reader.
I would still consider 'Mahashweta' a good introduction to Sudha Murthy's literature in my mid-20s. Her simplistic, feel-good stories are a welcome change from the difficulties of life. I am curious to read more of her books.
August 30, 2025
A gripping read, could've easily finished in a single setting.
I really do think that our Indian society could undergo a few modifications, for the betterment of everyone really, this book clearly shows all sides of why we should do so.
I liked how Anu didn't end up married like all books in this genre do, showing that marriage really isn't the sole motive of a woman's life.
A good book, with a good message, but the plot was entirely spoilt by the summary of the book, so well, my bad.
I really do think that our Indian society could undergo a few modifications, for the betterment of everyone really, this book clearly shows all sides of why we should do so.
I liked how Anu didn't end up married like all books in this genre do, showing that marriage really isn't the sole motive of a woman's life.
A good book, with a good message, but the plot was entirely spoilt by the summary of the book, so well, my bad.
January 10, 2021
Easy read can finish it in a day.
Like her other books it is also a women centric story and focuses on indian family drama of class, cast ,culture and religion.
It's a story of a girl suffering from leukoderma and how the disease impacted her married life.Even her eductaed and insensitive husband did not come in support for her and how she manages to rebuild her life and be financially independent.
Sudha Murty tried to show the apathy of society towards the people suffering from the diesease but somehow the connect factor was missing. It did not touch my heart and I did not grieve or rejoice with the characters.
Like her other books it is also a women centric story and focuses on indian family drama of class, cast ,culture and religion.
It's a story of a girl suffering from leukoderma and how the disease impacted her married life.Even her eductaed and insensitive husband did not come in support for her and how she manages to rebuild her life and be financially independent.
Sudha Murty tried to show the apathy of society towards the people suffering from the diesease but somehow the connect factor was missing. It did not touch my heart and I did not grieve or rejoice with the characters.
April 3, 2012
This book deals with the sensitive topic of 'vitiligo' and how despite being a harmless condition of depigmentation it destroys lives and hopes and ostracises one from society and friends. A young newly wed beautiful woman is the protagonist who deals with this condition and emerges out a much stronger woman.
April 14, 2023
Plagiarized story from the original book Mahashweta by a Marathi author Sumati Kshetramade. This is horrifying! At least give credit where it's due. You can be inspired from another book, but give the original author respect and credit for her efforts!
December 17, 2016
Dealt with things on a very surface level. One of the problems with many Indian authors. They're so plot driven they don't linger on moments where they must.
August 8, 2021
This is why Sudha Murthy is and will always remain one of my favourites!!!
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
March 19, 2025
Honestly, I didn't read the book—I just let my friend narrate the whole thing to me in vivid detail. So, should I count this as 'reading' it? Because I'm pretty sure I got the full experience lol.
May 10, 2019
Mahashweta.
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"Of the thousands of flowers that blossom on a tree only a few will bear fruit. And out of those few fruits, insects and squirrels will eat some. The tree does not keep anything for itself. Does that mean that the life of the tree is wasted?" - Sudha Murty.
~
I cannot get enough of Sudha Murty's books and I have my reasons for it. Her writing is enthralling not because she's writing about something new and unheard of but for the fact that she addresses the existing social stigmas. Mahashweta is a very educative read not in the academic sense but on the front of morality and humanity. This is the story of Anupama who has always been an ethereal beauty but leukoderma changes her once happy World into a nightmare. Anupama and Anand get married after falling in love inspite of the differences in their social statuses. Soon after their wedding Anand leaves for England to study masters in medicine and Anupama is left behind with a mother-in-law and a sister-in-law who detest her. Anupama wakes up one day to find a white patch on her skin and as she feared, is diagnosed with Leukoderma.
~
Her mother-in-law abandons her and shuns from the house while Anand is disgusted by his wife's disease. Anupama then leads a life of loneliness and falls into depression until one day she decides to start afresh. She moves to Bombay and finds a job to support herself with the help of a friend. She regains her lost confidence and embraces her condition. What follows next is her journey through life with its ups and downs. The story inspite of being quite predictable has been wonderfully written. Any person trying to seek courage and strength will find solace in this book. The writing is simple yet very intimate. A small read which can be finished in a single sitting.
~
Rating -3.8/5. #mahashweta
~
"Of the thousands of flowers that blossom on a tree only a few will bear fruit. And out of those few fruits, insects and squirrels will eat some. The tree does not keep anything for itself. Does that mean that the life of the tree is wasted?" - Sudha Murty.
~
I cannot get enough of Sudha Murty's books and I have my reasons for it. Her writing is enthralling not because she's writing about something new and unheard of but for the fact that she addresses the existing social stigmas. Mahashweta is a very educative read not in the academic sense but on the front of morality and humanity. This is the story of Anupama who has always been an ethereal beauty but leukoderma changes her once happy World into a nightmare. Anupama and Anand get married after falling in love inspite of the differences in their social statuses. Soon after their wedding Anand leaves for England to study masters in medicine and Anupama is left behind with a mother-in-law and a sister-in-law who detest her. Anupama wakes up one day to find a white patch on her skin and as she feared, is diagnosed with Leukoderma.
~
Her mother-in-law abandons her and shuns from the house while Anand is disgusted by his wife's disease. Anupama then leads a life of loneliness and falls into depression until one day she decides to start afresh. She moves to Bombay and finds a job to support herself with the help of a friend. She regains her lost confidence and embraces her condition. What follows next is her journey through life with its ups and downs. The story inspite of being quite predictable has been wonderfully written. Any person trying to seek courage and strength will find solace in this book. The writing is simple yet very intimate. A small read which can be finished in a single sitting.
~
Rating -3.8/5. #mahashweta
October 29, 2017
There are very few books which make you cry or compel you to think about your stand on certain social issues and taboos - this book in one of them. Though it is a very simplistic and a beautifully written novel, it serves as a 'reality check' for us. One tends to get so busy with routine life and family that we forget our basic human emotions like compassion, empathy, unconditional love and friendship. These are some of the tender qualities that have been reflected beautifully in this book in the main protagonist 'Anupama' despite suffering from Leukoderma.
The final chapter/Prologue was the best part of this book where the write shares a true incident that occured with her after the novel was published. There are some very well written and meaningful quotes throughout the book. Overall it was a fantastic read and somewhat an eye opener.
The final chapter/Prologue was the best part of this book where the write shares a true incident that occured with her after the novel was published. There are some very well written and meaningful quotes throughout the book. Overall it was a fantastic read and somewhat an eye opener.
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