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Padma
Two Fascinating Women, One Unforgettable Story
Kerala, 1900. Wealth, beauty, and intellect – sixteen-year-old Padma has it all. Her husband worships her, her mother-in-law adores her, and everyone else looks up to her. Yet she continues to be deprived of the one thing her soul aches for: children. Desperate for an heir, her husband succumbs to familial pressures and agrees to a second marriage that turns her life upside down.
Mumbai, present day. Naina loves her life the way it is – an exciting career in advertising, married to the love of her life, and they’ve just decided to start a family. Sounds perfect? Except, it isn’t. Naina soon discovers she cannot give her husband what he wants. Determined, they put their hopes in IVF (in vitro fertilization). But this is only the beginning of the storm that will soon rip Naina’s life apart.
Two wilful women, separated by the chasm of time, negotiate their feminine identities, struggle against patriarchal forces, face accusations of crime, and resurgence of old wounds – all in pursuit of fulfilling their innermost desires. Powerful and unflinching, Padma offers an intimate portrait of womanhood in India that will captivate you from the very first page.
Kerala, 1900. Wealth, beauty, and intellect – sixteen-year-old Padma has it all. Her husband worships her, her mother-in-law adores her, and everyone else looks up to her. Yet she continues to be deprived of the one thing her soul aches for: children. Desperate for an heir, her husband succumbs to familial pressures and agrees to a second marriage that turns her life upside down.
Mumbai, present day. Naina loves her life the way it is – an exciting career in advertising, married to the love of her life, and they’ve just decided to start a family. Sounds perfect? Except, it isn’t. Naina soon discovers she cannot give her husband what he wants. Determined, they put their hopes in IVF (in vitro fertilization). But this is only the beginning of the storm that will soon rip Naina’s life apart.
Two wilful women, separated by the chasm of time, negotiate their feminine identities, struggle against patriarchal forces, face accusations of crime, and resurgence of old wounds – all in pursuit of fulfilling their innermost desires. Powerful and unflinching, Padma offers an intimate portrait of womanhood in India that will captivate you from the very first page.
- GenresFiction
422 pages
Published April 25, 2022
7 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 22, 2025
This book is a perfect description of Indian culture, fertility and takes on the patriarchy. There is a parallel telling of two stories of different eras. From the beginning, the author did an excellent job of anchoring us to our seats on this roller coaster trip of struggles faced by our protagonists Padma and Naina. With a dash of similar challenges faced by the two despite the chasm of time.
It is the story of Naina and Padma. Naina's life is shown in the present day. A career-oriented girl who has a loving husband and they are ready to start a family. On the other hand, Padma's life is shown in the year 1900. she is beautiful, wealthy as well as intellectual. She has a very loving husband and in-laws. There is one common aspect to both the story and that is they could not get pregnant.
The storyline is really good. It depicts some serious issues and outlines how we as a society handled them in past as well as handled them in present. The language used is simple and easy to comprehend. Kudos to the author for bringing out such a fresh perspective.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
It is the story of Naina and Padma. Naina's life is shown in the present day. A career-oriented girl who has a loving husband and they are ready to start a family. On the other hand, Padma's life is shown in the year 1900. she is beautiful, wealthy as well as intellectual. She has a very loving husband and in-laws. There is one common aspect to both the story and that is they could not get pregnant.
The storyline is really good. It depicts some serious issues and outlines how we as a society handled them in past as well as handled them in present. The language used is simple and easy to comprehend. Kudos to the author for bringing out such a fresh perspective.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
June 11, 2022
Padma by Mala Mahesh is a bold story of two women – Padma and Naina – who are endowed with beauty, wealth, and intellect. But the only thing they are deprived of is children. In 20th Kerala, Padma was married to a loving husband, Seshdhari. But their childless state forces him into a second marriage to continue his bloodline. Padma unwillingly makes peace with the situation but for how long would she be able to fight against the patriarchy?
In present-day Mumbai, Naina has an amazing partner in Naveen. However, when their efforts to conceive fail, Naina looks for surrogacy and finds a suitable fit in Naveen’s colleague, Vinita. Vinita agrees to the plan but this arrangement brings in buried trauma and insecurities in Naina that challenge the peaceful status quo.
Mala has written a wonderful story in two separate timelines, connected by a painful issue. It is a story of maintaining the pride of womanhood and craving for motherhood. It is a story of deep-seated patriarchy and insecurities borne out of the stingy words of society. It is a story that reminds us how women have to bear the brunt of infertility while attempting to maintain their identities.
I loved the strong women in this book. In fact, I liked the portrayal of each character. Mala has a knack for weaving a genuinely vivid storyline that completely pulls in the reader and keeps them hooked until the very end. Be it Kerala or Mumbai or the intricacies of developments in human relations, each detail gets attention in the book and that precisely makes it a good read.
The cover is beautiful and the writing is breezy with no beating around the bush. It is certainly a meaningful tale that underlines the plight of women bringing out their inner demons and strengths equally. I recommend this book to all!
In present-day Mumbai, Naina has an amazing partner in Naveen. However, when their efforts to conceive fail, Naina looks for surrogacy and finds a suitable fit in Naveen’s colleague, Vinita. Vinita agrees to the plan but this arrangement brings in buried trauma and insecurities in Naina that challenge the peaceful status quo.
Mala has written a wonderful story in two separate timelines, connected by a painful issue. It is a story of maintaining the pride of womanhood and craving for motherhood. It is a story of deep-seated patriarchy and insecurities borne out of the stingy words of society. It is a story that reminds us how women have to bear the brunt of infertility while attempting to maintain their identities.
I loved the strong women in this book. In fact, I liked the portrayal of each character. Mala has a knack for weaving a genuinely vivid storyline that completely pulls in the reader and keeps them hooked until the very end. Be it Kerala or Mumbai or the intricacies of developments in human relations, each detail gets attention in the book and that precisely makes it a good read.
The cover is beautiful and the writing is breezy with no beating around the bush. It is certainly a meaningful tale that underlines the plight of women bringing out their inner demons and strengths equally. I recommend this book to all!
September 11, 2022
Padma by Mala Malesh, set in Kerala 1900s and present day Mumbai, an unforgettable story of two fascinating women - Padma and Naina. Both struggling to find a heir and start a family with their respective partners.
Two wilful women, separated by the chasm of time, negotiate their feminine identities, struggle against patriarchal forces, face accusations of crime, and resurgence of old wounds – all in pursuit of fulfilling their innermost desires. Padma offers an intimate portrait of womanhood in India that will captivate you from the very first page.
I enjoyed reading about these two strong women characters in their respective time and how society plays a role in both. The plot is very well written and weaved with exact layers and their timings throughout the book. I highly recommend this book.
Two wilful women, separated by the chasm of time, negotiate their feminine identities, struggle against patriarchal forces, face accusations of crime, and resurgence of old wounds – all in pursuit of fulfilling their innermost desires. Padma offers an intimate portrait of womanhood in India that will captivate you from the very first page.
I enjoyed reading about these two strong women characters in their respective time and how society plays a role in both. The plot is very well written and weaved with exact layers and their timings throughout the book. I highly recommend this book.
July 24, 2022
4.5/5
The book takes us on the journey of 2 women of the same family tree - Padma & Naina.
Padma’s story is set in Kerala, in the early 90s where India was still under the British rule. Padma was married at the age of 16 and was loved both by her husband and mother in law. Everything about her was perfect except the fact that she was unable to bear children of her own which forced her husband to have a second marriage.
On the other hand, Naina’s story is set in the present Mumbai. She’s a strong and independent woman and loves her husband to bits. But the only thing that she’s stressed about is not being able to produce her own babies.
Naina and Padma had one similarity - they both couldn’t conceive but each of them wrote their own life story.
I absolutely loved reading the book. The characterisation is perfect and feels so real. In the beginning, Naina got on my nerves but her character developed a lot overtime. The details had me so engrossed that I finished this book even while sitting in my office😹
Definitely recommended
The book takes us on the journey of 2 women of the same family tree - Padma & Naina.
Padma’s story is set in Kerala, in the early 90s where India was still under the British rule. Padma was married at the age of 16 and was loved both by her husband and mother in law. Everything about her was perfect except the fact that she was unable to bear children of her own which forced her husband to have a second marriage.
On the other hand, Naina’s story is set in the present Mumbai. She’s a strong and independent woman and loves her husband to bits. But the only thing that she’s stressed about is not being able to produce her own babies.
Naina and Padma had one similarity - they both couldn’t conceive but each of them wrote their own life story.
I absolutely loved reading the book. The characterisation is perfect and feels so real. In the beginning, Naina got on my nerves but her character developed a lot overtime. The details had me so engrossed that I finished this book even while sitting in my office😹
Definitely recommended
August 6, 2022
Insecurities really are the end of everything. But are they always entirely baseless? Padma (maybe very rightly so, in my opinion) shows that a woman’s instincts are seldom wrong.
This is the story of 2 women, Padma and Naina. Padma’s story is set in the 1900s, while that of Naina’s in the present day. Both the women are ambitious, smart, enticing and living a happy married life. But then…enters the other woman.
Oh, by the way, did I mention yet another commonality between them? They are both infertile.
Given so, Padma’s husband (though he loves her very much) resorts to a second marriage. And rifts start cracking in when Naina and her husband, Naveen, decide to opt for the IVF treatment. In their struggle to get out of the emotional labyrinth, what all havoc will these 2 women wreak on themselves and the world?
Honestly, when I started, 400 pages seemed very daunting. But once I began reading, there was no stop. Some may disagree with me, but I think that this was a blend of 2 contrasting women, who were tied together just by their circumstances. While Padma commanded my respect and captivated me, Naina wanted me to scratch out my skin. And yet, I loved all of it because it made me realise how women are always expected to behave a certain way and any selfish behaviour on their part is scorned upon. So scorned upon, that at one point I wanted to close the book shut.
And this was when I saw hypocrisy staring back...
Padma is one back that performed beyond my expectations and I earnestly believe that it needs to go out more. If you are into domestic fiction, do give it a try. I promise you will love it!
This is the story of 2 women, Padma and Naina. Padma’s story is set in the 1900s, while that of Naina’s in the present day. Both the women are ambitious, smart, enticing and living a happy married life. But then…enters the other woman.
Oh, by the way, did I mention yet another commonality between them? They are both infertile.
Given so, Padma’s husband (though he loves her very much) resorts to a second marriage. And rifts start cracking in when Naina and her husband, Naveen, decide to opt for the IVF treatment. In their struggle to get out of the emotional labyrinth, what all havoc will these 2 women wreak on themselves and the world?
Honestly, when I started, 400 pages seemed very daunting. But once I began reading, there was no stop. Some may disagree with me, but I think that this was a blend of 2 contrasting women, who were tied together just by their circumstances. While Padma commanded my respect and captivated me, Naina wanted me to scratch out my skin. And yet, I loved all of it because it made me realise how women are always expected to behave a certain way and any selfish behaviour on their part is scorned upon. So scorned upon, that at one point I wanted to close the book shut.
And this was when I saw hypocrisy staring back...
Padma is one back that performed beyond my expectations and I earnestly believe that it needs to go out more. If you are into domestic fiction, do give it a try. I promise you will love it!
May 23, 2022
Book title: Padma' by Mala Mahesh
Review
Two wilful women, separated by the chasm of time, negotiate their feminine identities, struggle against patriarchal forces, face accusations of crime, and resurgence of old wounds – all in pursuit of fulfilling their innermost desires. Powerful and unflinching, Padma offers an intimate portrait of womanhood in India that will captivate you from the very first page.
It is a story of two beautiful and accomplished women living 100 years apart in India, separated by timeline but going through the same atrocities of a patriarchal society.
Both women's character are equally captivating. Padma and Naina both are strong willed women.
I was amazed to read it as it’s beautifully written and easy to understand I feel everyone should read this book and I am sure you will love it !!
Review
Two wilful women, separated by the chasm of time, negotiate their feminine identities, struggle against patriarchal forces, face accusations of crime, and resurgence of old wounds – all in pursuit of fulfilling their innermost desires. Powerful and unflinching, Padma offers an intimate portrait of womanhood in India that will captivate you from the very first page.
It is a story of two beautiful and accomplished women living 100 years apart in India, separated by timeline but going through the same atrocities of a patriarchal society.
Both women's character are equally captivating. Padma and Naina both are strong willed women.
I was amazed to read it as it’s beautifully written and easy to understand I feel everyone should read this book and I am sure you will love it !!
May 17, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK - " PADMA "
AUTHOR - " MALA MAHESH "
GENRE- " FICTION, DRAMA "
I have to admit that the moment I saw the cover page, I was sold. I had to read this book. I had to know about Padma. Her story. Her life. The backdrop, the house, the coconut tree and the rangoli design captivated me. The beauty of the woman in the picture, her attire, eyes, jewelleries and the red bindi on her forehead are an epitome of grace. The author has done an excellent job in the cover page and the story as well.
As the name suggests, this is the story of Padma. Set in the 1900's, a young bride enters into the household which shelters several families. Sheshadri is bowled over by Padma's beauty and charm. It's love at first sight for him. Though an arranged marriage, their love blossoms every single day. The matriarch of the house, Seetha Paati is strict but loving. She oversees that the women folk in the house cater to all the needs in the kitchen and out. The female folk follow a routine like keeping a tab on the menstrual cycle of woman and the the right for the coupling period. Though seeming strange, it was interesting nevertheless. Seetha Paati is taken by Padma's demeanor. Soon, Padma reigns the household and the family politics as her husband Shashadri is the sole breadwinner and a respected man in the village.
Their daily interactions and lifestyle gives a refreshing view of the 1900's in Kerala. Though set during the British time, the book has little mention of the influence of the britishers here.
The author goes to and fro between the stories of Padma and Naina. Padma is Naina's ancestor. Naina and her husband Naveen stumble upon the dairies in the dilapated bungalow when they visit Kerala.
The story sets off when Naina wants the dairies to be translated. Though she is not much interested in knowing what encapsulated in the past, Naina and Padma's life converge and resemble more than one expected.
Both Padma and Naina are barren and they face the brunt of it in their personal life's. Pretty, strong headed and ambitious, they have an aura around them which is hard to rub off from our mind.
Their love stories are complicated but one yearns to have such love in their lives. Though both of them have flaws which infuriate people, one cannot but adore their timid heart camouflaged in the outer exterior.
Both are taunted, detested and loved unconditionally. I loved the husband characters - Sheshari and Naveen. Though I got pissed off at Naveen and was not convinced about his actions, Sheshari won over my heart. His love for Padma through trials and tribulations and his demeanor in handling complicated family bonds is amazing.
There are several other characters which one comes across this book. Some make you feel good and some infuriate you. Vinita and Satish character is one which ticked me off. But again, this is the beauty of the author. She wrote in such a way that it evoked numerous emotions in the mind of the reader.
I don't want to talk anymore as it's a book to read and experience. The writing of the author is top notch and her vivid descriptions of both the periods was fantastic. I loved Padma but I my heart also went to Naina and her quirky nature. This book made me realise the value of relationships and love. I will surely write a detailed review in my blog in the coming weeks but I urge one and all to read this book. It isn't preachy or comes with any conclusions. The author merely reflects the life during the set periods which she manages to swap effortlessly. But author leaves us in a cliffie , especially with Naina's story. I needed more to be convinced that Naveen deserves Naina. I hope there is a sequel to this book. A satisfactory read which brews so many questions in my mind and the characters and their life's linger on.
BOOK - " PADMA "
AUTHOR - " MALA MAHESH "
GENRE- " FICTION, DRAMA "
I have to admit that the moment I saw the cover page, I was sold. I had to read this book. I had to know about Padma. Her story. Her life. The backdrop, the house, the coconut tree and the rangoli design captivated me. The beauty of the woman in the picture, her attire, eyes, jewelleries and the red bindi on her forehead are an epitome of grace. The author has done an excellent job in the cover page and the story as well.
As the name suggests, this is the story of Padma. Set in the 1900's, a young bride enters into the household which shelters several families. Sheshadri is bowled over by Padma's beauty and charm. It's love at first sight for him. Though an arranged marriage, their love blossoms every single day. The matriarch of the house, Seetha Paati is strict but loving. She oversees that the women folk in the house cater to all the needs in the kitchen and out. The female folk follow a routine like keeping a tab on the menstrual cycle of woman and the the right for the coupling period. Though seeming strange, it was interesting nevertheless. Seetha Paati is taken by Padma's demeanor. Soon, Padma reigns the household and the family politics as her husband Shashadri is the sole breadwinner and a respected man in the village.
Their daily interactions and lifestyle gives a refreshing view of the 1900's in Kerala. Though set during the British time, the book has little mention of the influence of the britishers here.
The author goes to and fro between the stories of Padma and Naina. Padma is Naina's ancestor. Naina and her husband Naveen stumble upon the dairies in the dilapated bungalow when they visit Kerala.
The story sets off when Naina wants the dairies to be translated. Though she is not much interested in knowing what encapsulated in the past, Naina and Padma's life converge and resemble more than one expected.
Both Padma and Naina are barren and they face the brunt of it in their personal life's. Pretty, strong headed and ambitious, they have an aura around them which is hard to rub off from our mind.
Their love stories are complicated but one yearns to have such love in their lives. Though both of them have flaws which infuriate people, one cannot but adore their timid heart camouflaged in the outer exterior.
Both are taunted, detested and loved unconditionally. I loved the husband characters - Sheshari and Naveen. Though I got pissed off at Naveen and was not convinced about his actions, Sheshari won over my heart. His love for Padma through trials and tribulations and his demeanor in handling complicated family bonds is amazing.
There are several other characters which one comes across this book. Some make you feel good and some infuriate you. Vinita and Satish character is one which ticked me off. But again, this is the beauty of the author. She wrote in such a way that it evoked numerous emotions in the mind of the reader.
I don't want to talk anymore as it's a book to read and experience. The writing of the author is top notch and her vivid descriptions of both the periods was fantastic. I loved Padma but I my heart also went to Naina and her quirky nature. This book made me realise the value of relationships and love. I will surely write a detailed review in my blog in the coming weeks but I urge one and all to read this book. It isn't preachy or comes with any conclusions. The author merely reflects the life during the set periods which she manages to swap effortlessly. But author leaves us in a cliffie , especially with Naina's story. I needed more to be convinced that Naveen deserves Naina. I hope there is a sequel to this book. A satisfactory read which brews so many questions in my mind and the characters and their life's linger on.
June 12, 2022
"It is hard to understand a woman" is often heard, sometimes in jokes or sometimes on a serious note. However, I wonder why it is so difficult to understand? Is it because women are squeezed between tentacles of an octopus named patriarchy, fear of expressing their feelings and emotions because of societal judgments.
However, in contemporary society, women are in a good place, or I will say empowered. "Empowerment" is a strong word with a strong feeling of capability that comes within, and it depends not only on economic advancement but also on social acceptance. And we as a society tell women to be empowered but, on our terms, judge them for their color, complexion, different shape and size, being single, and last but not least, infertility.
Through her book "Padma," Mala Mahesh seamlessly weaved the story of two strong women struggling with the same emotions, pain, and judgment from two different times.
Book follows the story of Padma and Naina. Padma is a strong, opinionated, intelligent woman loved by everyone and possesses everything, yet there is one thing missing in her life, Children, that she can't bear. And this one thing brings misery to her life and changes everything for her.
Naina, a modern-day independent woman, living an exciting life and married to her love and planning for a family, soon discovered the issue of conceiving a child. But she was determined and tried the in-vitro method and again failed. The ghost of the past and unsolicited advice from her family and friends unleash a storm in her life.
Though Padma and Naina are from two different timelines, both reflect the strong characteristics of womanhood, pain and emotional turmoil, isolation, struggle against patriarchy and injustice, and finding their identity and self-worth beyond society's eyes.
I appreciate the author's courage to talk about a much-needed topic, " Infertility, " which most of us feel hesitant and uncomfortable discussing. I also loved the Naveen and Seshadhri's compassion and unconditional love for their wives, Naina and Padma. Seshadhri, under social and family pressure, made some unjust decisions but always respected Padma's decisions and encouraged her to expand her horizon in business other than household work.
I also loved the beautiful narration of various Kerala festivals, rituals, and delicacy; it gives an authentic feel to the story. The characters are well-crafted, and I feel the various emotions, like jealousy, sympathy, compassion, remorse, and redemption. Apart from emotions, the character also reflects how the situations alter an individual's choice of words, making them bitter and rigid to understanding others' concerns.
As the Padma said,
"We were entangled in our webs of misery and self-pity, and we didn't see the other's point of view."
Overall, I loved every bit of the book and am happily living in a world with so much beautiful writing like Mala Mahesh. I would highly recommend this book to all.
However, in contemporary society, women are in a good place, or I will say empowered. "Empowerment" is a strong word with a strong feeling of capability that comes within, and it depends not only on economic advancement but also on social acceptance. And we as a society tell women to be empowered but, on our terms, judge them for their color, complexion, different shape and size, being single, and last but not least, infertility.
Through her book "Padma," Mala Mahesh seamlessly weaved the story of two strong women struggling with the same emotions, pain, and judgment from two different times.
Book follows the story of Padma and Naina. Padma is a strong, opinionated, intelligent woman loved by everyone and possesses everything, yet there is one thing missing in her life, Children, that she can't bear. And this one thing brings misery to her life and changes everything for her.
Naina, a modern-day independent woman, living an exciting life and married to her love and planning for a family, soon discovered the issue of conceiving a child. But she was determined and tried the in-vitro method and again failed. The ghost of the past and unsolicited advice from her family and friends unleash a storm in her life.
Though Padma and Naina are from two different timelines, both reflect the strong characteristics of womanhood, pain and emotional turmoil, isolation, struggle against patriarchy and injustice, and finding their identity and self-worth beyond society's eyes.
I appreciate the author's courage to talk about a much-needed topic, " Infertility, " which most of us feel hesitant and uncomfortable discussing. I also loved the Naveen and Seshadhri's compassion and unconditional love for their wives, Naina and Padma. Seshadhri, under social and family pressure, made some unjust decisions but always respected Padma's decisions and encouraged her to expand her horizon in business other than household work.
I also loved the beautiful narration of various Kerala festivals, rituals, and delicacy; it gives an authentic feel to the story. The characters are well-crafted, and I feel the various emotions, like jealousy, sympathy, compassion, remorse, and redemption. Apart from emotions, the character also reflects how the situations alter an individual's choice of words, making them bitter and rigid to understanding others' concerns.
As the Padma said,
"We were entangled in our webs of misery and self-pity, and we didn't see the other's point of view."
Overall, I loved every bit of the book and am happily living in a world with so much beautiful writing like Mala Mahesh. I would highly recommend this book to all.
June 1, 2025
A powerful intergenerational tale of womanhood, resilience, and reconciliation
Padma by Mala Mahesh is a poignant, beautifully woven narrative that bridges the lives of two women—Padma and her granddaughter Naina—each struggling with societal expectations, personal grief, and complex family dynamics.
The story opens with Naina, a modern woman navigating the emotional turmoil of infertility. Her discovery of old diaries in her ancestral home sets off a parallel journey—one that uncovers the life of her grandmother, Padma, whose own battles with motherhood and societal norms in a conservative era mirror Naina’s present-day experiences.
Mala Mahesh intricately draws connections between the past and present, showing how history, pain, and resilience echo across generations. Padma’s quiet strength and heartbreaking sacrifices, particularly in the face of her husband’s second marriage, are both haunting and deeply moving. At the same time, Naina’s evolving journey—from hope to heartbreak, from surrogacy to personal reckoning—feels raw and real. The moment where Naina's desire to control spirals into conflict with Vinita is especially telling, shedding light on her deeper emotional wounds and insecurities.
The emotional high points are delicately handled—the miscarriage, the unspoken grief, the betrayal, and the ultimate rediscovery of self and forgiveness. Naina's eventual realization, prompted by understanding Padma’s painful yet graceful endurance, leads to a cathartic and satisfying conclusion that ties the two women’s journeys together beautifully.
What I especially appreciated was how the author tackled themes like infertility, surrogacy, marital strain, and societal judgment with sensitivity and nuance. The Malayalam diary entries were a lovely cultural touch, anchoring the story in both time and place.
The only reason I’m docking a star is due to occasional pacing dips in the middle sections—but overall, this is a deeply affecting novel that lingers long after the final page.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy multi-generational sagas with emotional depth and strong female perspectives.
Padma by Mala Mahesh is a poignant, beautifully woven narrative that bridges the lives of two women—Padma and her granddaughter Naina—each struggling with societal expectations, personal grief, and complex family dynamics.
The story opens with Naina, a modern woman navigating the emotional turmoil of infertility. Her discovery of old diaries in her ancestral home sets off a parallel journey—one that uncovers the life of her grandmother, Padma, whose own battles with motherhood and societal norms in a conservative era mirror Naina’s present-day experiences.
Mala Mahesh intricately draws connections between the past and present, showing how history, pain, and resilience echo across generations. Padma’s quiet strength and heartbreaking sacrifices, particularly in the face of her husband’s second marriage, are both haunting and deeply moving. At the same time, Naina’s evolving journey—from hope to heartbreak, from surrogacy to personal reckoning—feels raw and real. The moment where Naina's desire to control spirals into conflict with Vinita is especially telling, shedding light on her deeper emotional wounds and insecurities.
The emotional high points are delicately handled—the miscarriage, the unspoken grief, the betrayal, and the ultimate rediscovery of self and forgiveness. Naina's eventual realization, prompted by understanding Padma’s painful yet graceful endurance, leads to a cathartic and satisfying conclusion that ties the two women’s journeys together beautifully.
What I especially appreciated was how the author tackled themes like infertility, surrogacy, marital strain, and societal judgment with sensitivity and nuance. The Malayalam diary entries were a lovely cultural touch, anchoring the story in both time and place.
The only reason I’m docking a star is due to occasional pacing dips in the middle sections—but overall, this is a deeply affecting novel that lingers long after the final page.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy multi-generational sagas with emotional depth and strong female perspectives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2022
Very nicely penned
Padma review
⠀
Before starting this review, I just want to state that I loved Naveen and Naina (Navina, hehe) their story felt close to my heart cause of some real life similarities. And hats off to the author for picking such a difficult topic to write about especially in our country where infertility is considered as taboo or solely a women’s fault.
The story is divided into two settings, one in 1900s and another is set in modern present time.
Padma, a girl from 1900s married at such a tender age of 16 from her village Kerala, goes on battling her household duties and one of the major roadblock in an women's life, unable to conceive. As saddening as it may sound, this was the reality of our past ancestors. It was suggested to marry Seshadhri (Padma’s) again, so that he may carry on with his duty towards his family and fortune.
He did marry again, but even in coming years the love for Padma wasn’t diminished, just certain situations changed, Padma herself changed for the worse, blinded by greed and so on, but towards her end she did realize what went wrong and got her ending, it was rather peaceful. My heart did break for her, but the ending was satisfying so no problems there.
Now coming to Naina’s part, it was rather relatable I would say, maybe cause its set in present times.
Naina is smart, successful, and an honest person connected to her feelings, and loves her partner to death, the loyalty between them is really admirable, something one yearns.
Despite those happy days few black clouds were hovering over their lives, infertility. Due to some issues they fought in the middle which I’m not going to reveal, but they do reconcile towards the end and it was so adorable, the way they cleared their miscommunication, so realistic.
Overall, I recommend this book to everyone, definitely a good read.
Rating- 5/5
Padma review
⠀
Before starting this review, I just want to state that I loved Naveen and Naina (Navina, hehe) their story felt close to my heart cause of some real life similarities. And hats off to the author for picking such a difficult topic to write about especially in our country where infertility is considered as taboo or solely a women’s fault.
The story is divided into two settings, one in 1900s and another is set in modern present time.
Padma, a girl from 1900s married at such a tender age of 16 from her village Kerala, goes on battling her household duties and one of the major roadblock in an women's life, unable to conceive. As saddening as it may sound, this was the reality of our past ancestors. It was suggested to marry Seshadhri (Padma’s) again, so that he may carry on with his duty towards his family and fortune.
He did marry again, but even in coming years the love for Padma wasn’t diminished, just certain situations changed, Padma herself changed for the worse, blinded by greed and so on, but towards her end she did realize what went wrong and got her ending, it was rather peaceful. My heart did break for her, but the ending was satisfying so no problems there.
Now coming to Naina’s part, it was rather relatable I would say, maybe cause its set in present times.
Naina is smart, successful, and an honest person connected to her feelings, and loves her partner to death, the loyalty between them is really admirable, something one yearns.
Despite those happy days few black clouds were hovering over their lives, infertility. Due to some issues they fought in the middle which I’m not going to reveal, but they do reconcile towards the end and it was so adorable, the way they cleared their miscommunication, so realistic.
Overall, I recommend this book to everyone, definitely a good read.
Rating- 5/5
June 24, 2022
"From now on, all are girls will attend school until they're eleven and the boys will finish their High school. We can create a separate college fund for further studies."
These lines are taken from the novel Padma by mala Mahesh where we can see Seshadri is a dressing to his second wife Lalitha, about the education of their girl child and the male child. This book is the story of two women Padma from Kerala and Naina from Mumbai. They both are suffering from in fertility and become the victim of the society for not being able to bear a child.
The book is divided into 44 chapters and each chapter tell the something new about the lives of the two women. The author has not only address the topics like infertility but also the education, status of the women in the family and many other such topics which lead to the feminist reading of the text.
Instead of talking about what the story is I want to focus more on what it is hinting on. The plight of the women across the years has been the same, she has suffered in the hands of the male, the entire patriarchal setup which wants the woman to bear a child and full fill the families responsibilities without expecting much from the husband and the society, is what the novel deals with. The women looks upto the mothers but the mother's themselves don't have any history so they have nothing to look up to.
Padma and Naina both of them are in the different spheres of their lives, are from the different times but still are facing the same problems, that is finding their voice which has been subjugated by the male, by their husbands and by the society.
This book is something which I highly recommend to read as its a gem for any reader, for any person who wants and who feels connected with the lives of the women around themselves.
These lines are taken from the novel Padma by mala Mahesh where we can see Seshadri is a dressing to his second wife Lalitha, about the education of their girl child and the male child. This book is the story of two women Padma from Kerala and Naina from Mumbai. They both are suffering from in fertility and become the victim of the society for not being able to bear a child.
The book is divided into 44 chapters and each chapter tell the something new about the lives of the two women. The author has not only address the topics like infertility but also the education, status of the women in the family and many other such topics which lead to the feminist reading of the text.
Instead of talking about what the story is I want to focus more on what it is hinting on. The plight of the women across the years has been the same, she has suffered in the hands of the male, the entire patriarchal setup which wants the woman to bear a child and full fill the families responsibilities without expecting much from the husband and the society, is what the novel deals with. The women looks upto the mothers but the mother's themselves don't have any history so they have nothing to look up to.
Padma and Naina both of them are in the different spheres of their lives, are from the different times but still are facing the same problems, that is finding their voice which has been subjugated by the male, by their husbands and by the society.
This book is something which I highly recommend to read as its a gem for any reader, for any person who wants and who feels connected with the lives of the women around themselves.
April 27, 2022
The book has so beautiful cover that I only picked it up because of it’s cover. And I am so glad that I did. Because the book met my expectations. The book started with Naina enjoying her vacation. Her ancestral home being demolished to be replaced by a mall or multi-storey apartment. I liked the way Naveen proposes to Naina after married for three years. And that proposal was to start a family. That was such an “awww..” moment. Then story shifted two years later. Naina was sad because she wasn’t getting pregnant. Naveen tried to reassure her. And they made a doctor’s appointment. Now the story shifted in 1900. The entire village of Mananilkara had attended Seshadhri’s marriage to Padma, daughter of the late Gopalswami Iyer, a wealthy landowner from Pattansherry. Now why that is mentioned here because there is a common factor in both parts of the story. Padma has everything beauty, wealth, loving husband and mother-in-law adores her. Yet she continues to be deprived of the one thing that is children . The story is written in different timeline but there are similarities. Read the book to unfold further. I liked the plot. I liked how author has taken female protagonists and portrayed a perfect picture about their and societal mindset in different time frames. It’s a tough task to do but author nailed it perfectly. I liked the concept and writing style of the author. The writing style of the author is captivating. The language of the book is lucid so that everyone can read it. I liked how in such a light way, author narrated a deep meaningful tale. Good one. I enjoyed reading it.
June 21, 2022
A tale spanning two different generations of the same family line. Two different women but having similar grit. Two women unable to bear children but having the love of their husbands. They are different in demeanours but somehow joined together in their stories and the cycle of life bringing it together.
.
So, Padma, wife of Seshadri, is well loved in her family after marriage, however, she s unable to bear child, such that her husband is forced to re marry. Lalitha, co-wife to her husband, meanwhile bears child but that first child is found dead bringing in tremendous craziness to the family and turbulence in their lives. Padma, however, stands strong. The issue of women s importance is only child bearing and nothing else is the predominant topic here. The thought that a woman is only a consort to her husband is there too.
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In the modern timeline, Naina, finds some malayalam diaries in her ancestral home and is also trying for a family. A hindered reproductive health, a failed IVF later, she opts for surrogacy, however, her troubled past makes her think not so true thoughts about her chosen surrogate woman and everything in her life too starts to fall apart.
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I think what for me is the highlight that in both stories I feel the fact that women themselves are enemy to each other is strong through the book. I loved Naveen s character in the modern timeline and Ramanathan in the old timeline.
.
Tha Padma title comes to life in the ending of the book. The book is truly well represented and penned. It has diagrams, word explanations and so on and is an impeccable look into a south Indian family.
.
So, Padma, wife of Seshadri, is well loved in her family after marriage, however, she s unable to bear child, such that her husband is forced to re marry. Lalitha, co-wife to her husband, meanwhile bears child but that first child is found dead bringing in tremendous craziness to the family and turbulence in their lives. Padma, however, stands strong. The issue of women s importance is only child bearing and nothing else is the predominant topic here. The thought that a woman is only a consort to her husband is there too.
.
In the modern timeline, Naina, finds some malayalam diaries in her ancestral home and is also trying for a family. A hindered reproductive health, a failed IVF later, she opts for surrogacy, however, her troubled past makes her think not so true thoughts about her chosen surrogate woman and everything in her life too starts to fall apart.
.
I think what for me is the highlight that in both stories I feel the fact that women themselves are enemy to each other is strong through the book. I loved Naveen s character in the modern timeline and Ramanathan in the old timeline.
.
Tha Padma title comes to life in the ending of the book. The book is truly well represented and penned. It has diagrams, word explanations and so on and is an impeccable look into a south Indian family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2024
4.5⭐️
Padma is set in Kerala of the 1900s and present day Mumbai.
When I first started reading this book, some of the titles/ names used weren't Malayalam words but Tamil ones. Akka for Big Sister. Paati for Grandmother. Chithi for Aunt.
I was rather confused as these weren't terms that would normally be used in a Malayalee household. Then I read the author's afterword and she clearly explained why she used those words and how the Tamil terms were incorporated in households in Kerala due to the exodus of Tamil Brahmins into Kerala. The use of Tamil terms together with Malayalam was fascinating to read about. You truly learn something new everyday
The two timelines in this book are of Padma's life in the past during the early 1900s and Naina's in the current timeline. Two smart, ambitious and capable women. Both women connected to each other across the expanse of time by the same agonising issue.
It is a story of two women trying to maintain their pride in a community where societal validation comes from being a wife and mother. The anguish that both Padma and Naina felt in trying to conceive was something familiar. When you want to conceive so badly but it doesnt happen for you, while everyone around you seems to conceive easily. It is both painful and disheartening. The solutions presented in this story were perhaps not the most ideal ones, but Padma and Naina are desperate enough to take a shot at what could, potentially, be the answer to their problems.
Reading about life in Kerala in Padma's time was engrossing. Generations of a family living together and running a joint household. Learning about the various Kerala festivals and rituals in Kerala, the type of homes they lived in and the food they ate, while familiar sometimes, was eye opening. And in present day Mumbai, Naina's life as an ambitious career woman on a rising path is something we can all find familiar. Her childhood trauma rearing its ugly head to impact her adult life was tough to read about.
But kudos to Mala Mahesh for writing about difficult topics when sometimes even talking about infertility and mental health is a taboo.
I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it.
Padma is set in Kerala of the 1900s and present day Mumbai.
When I first started reading this book, some of the titles/ names used weren't Malayalam words but Tamil ones. Akka for Big Sister. Paati for Grandmother. Chithi for Aunt.
I was rather confused as these weren't terms that would normally be used in a Malayalee household. Then I read the author's afterword and she clearly explained why she used those words and how the Tamil terms were incorporated in households in Kerala due to the exodus of Tamil Brahmins into Kerala. The use of Tamil terms together with Malayalam was fascinating to read about. You truly learn something new everyday
The two timelines in this book are of Padma's life in the past during the early 1900s and Naina's in the current timeline. Two smart, ambitious and capable women. Both women connected to each other across the expanse of time by the same agonising issue.
It is a story of two women trying to maintain their pride in a community where societal validation comes from being a wife and mother. The anguish that both Padma and Naina felt in trying to conceive was something familiar. When you want to conceive so badly but it doesnt happen for you, while everyone around you seems to conceive easily. It is both painful and disheartening. The solutions presented in this story were perhaps not the most ideal ones, but Padma and Naina are desperate enough to take a shot at what could, potentially, be the answer to their problems.
Reading about life in Kerala in Padma's time was engrossing. Generations of a family living together and running a joint household. Learning about the various Kerala festivals and rituals in Kerala, the type of homes they lived in and the food they ate, while familiar sometimes, was eye opening. And in present day Mumbai, Naina's life as an ambitious career woman on a rising path is something we can all find familiar. Her childhood trauma rearing its ugly head to impact her adult life was tough to read about.
But kudos to Mala Mahesh for writing about difficult topics when sometimes even talking about infertility and mental health is a taboo.
I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it.
May 6, 2022
- The story is based on two strong women- Naina and Padma. While Naina's story takes place in the present day, Padma's is based in the year 1900. Their stories run parallelly. Padma and Naina, both face a similar problem - they are unable to get pregnant.
While both women are intelligent, wealthy, and settled, - living a peaceful life, the community doesn't hesitate in placing the blame on them for something that isn't their fault, as it is natural and a part and parcel of life on earth.
- Will these two women, standing apart at the division of time be able to face these changes thrust upon them? Will they be able to fight for their rights? They wrestle against time, against dominant patriarchal ideology to find their happiness.
- The story carries a message for all. The narration is lucid. The writing is simple and engaging. The characters are well-developed. The was satisfactory but a little heart-breaking at the same time. It is a fictional book, hence a few things were not as realistic. However, overall, it was an interesting read.
- The author provides a stark comparison of how we handled similar situations in the past and how we handle them now. He expertly depicts society's behavior regarding these issues. The immediate solutions to these issues may have changed, such as in Naina's case-going with an IVF and in Padma's, her husband going for a second marriage - but, have we been able to change the community's perception regarding these issues?
While both women are intelligent, wealthy, and settled, - living a peaceful life, the community doesn't hesitate in placing the blame on them for something that isn't their fault, as it is natural and a part and parcel of life on earth.
- Will these two women, standing apart at the division of time be able to face these changes thrust upon them? Will they be able to fight for their rights? They wrestle against time, against dominant patriarchal ideology to find their happiness.
- The story carries a message for all. The narration is lucid. The writing is simple and engaging. The characters are well-developed. The was satisfactory but a little heart-breaking at the same time. It is a fictional book, hence a few things were not as realistic. However, overall, it was an interesting read.
- The author provides a stark comparison of how we handled similar situations in the past and how we handle them now. He expertly depicts society's behavior regarding these issues. The immediate solutions to these issues may have changed, such as in Naina's case-going with an IVF and in Padma's, her husband going for a second marriage - but, have we been able to change the community's perception regarding these issues?
May 18, 2022
Title: Padma
Author: Mala Mahesh
Review:
“Padma” by Mala Mahesh is an absolutely riveting and captivating fictional story that captures the life of two women from different eras united by common history and common woes that plague their lives. On one side of the story is beautiful and alluring Padma in some distant twentieth century consumed in her household where she’s loved and taken care of by her husband Sheshadri and mother in law Seetha until she fails to deliver heir to the family. On the other side is the story of confident and ambitious Naina who falls for Naveen and is happily married but she too is stuck in the same situation as Padma is because of her inability to bear child. What truly makes this story interesting is the thread of history between these two women that captures the essence and theme of the book.
Though standing in the distant ends of time, there’s hardly any contrast between their fate. Weaved in a simple and lucid language, the story throughout remains consistent and coherent. It has been wired staying true to reality and rawness of society without overdramatizing or over stretching it unnecessarily. The characters are strong, well developed and deliver their part powerfully, the prose is nuanced and effective. All in all, it’s a fast paced engaging read that keeps readers absorbed in its content. A perfect read for Sunday afternoon.
Would recommend it to everyone!
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author: Mala Mahesh
Review:
“Padma” by Mala Mahesh is an absolutely riveting and captivating fictional story that captures the life of two women from different eras united by common history and common woes that plague their lives. On one side of the story is beautiful and alluring Padma in some distant twentieth century consumed in her household where she’s loved and taken care of by her husband Sheshadri and mother in law Seetha until she fails to deliver heir to the family. On the other side is the story of confident and ambitious Naina who falls for Naveen and is happily married but she too is stuck in the same situation as Padma is because of her inability to bear child. What truly makes this story interesting is the thread of history between these two women that captures the essence and theme of the book.
Though standing in the distant ends of time, there’s hardly any contrast between their fate. Weaved in a simple and lucid language, the story throughout remains consistent and coherent. It has been wired staying true to reality and rawness of society without overdramatizing or over stretching it unnecessarily. The characters are strong, well developed and deliver their part powerfully, the prose is nuanced and effective. All in all, it’s a fast paced engaging read that keeps readers absorbed in its content. A perfect read for Sunday afternoon.
Would recommend it to everyone!
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 20, 2022
Padma is a story that touched the core of my heart. Stating the stories of two strong women separated by time but shares this unseen bond.
Padma's story being set in the 1900s shares the cultural set then. Despite being set in the British reign era, there's little mention of it in the book. Padma depicts a strong character that captures one's attention all to herself once laid eyes on her. She's got everything a woman that era wants and more, but she lacked only one thing which then believed as a taboo in the patriarchy, she couldn't bear children. But she got Seshadhri, whose so loving and gives her every once of respect and love she deserve.
Then it comes to the story of Naina, who's really somewhat Padma's successor, living in Mumbai. She comes across some diaries when came to Kerala to sell her ancestoral house. She having a well off, balanced life with her love of life,Naveen, also stumbles on this hurdle that she could also not bear children.
This hurdle connects these both women. But Naina have the advantage of living in the modern century. They try every way they could to have a child.
The story is well developed with these two strong women as the MCs and with the details of the two time periods. Even the geographical setting the author chose perfectly supports the flow of the story. The parallel glide between the two plot was smooth that the switching gone unnoticed.
This is definitely a recommended read.
Padma's story being set in the 1900s shares the cultural set then. Despite being set in the British reign era, there's little mention of it in the book. Padma depicts a strong character that captures one's attention all to herself once laid eyes on her. She's got everything a woman that era wants and more, but she lacked only one thing which then believed as a taboo in the patriarchy, she couldn't bear children. But she got Seshadhri, whose so loving and gives her every once of respect and love she deserve.
Then it comes to the story of Naina, who's really somewhat Padma's successor, living in Mumbai. She comes across some diaries when came to Kerala to sell her ancestoral house. She having a well off, balanced life with her love of life,Naveen, also stumbles on this hurdle that she could also not bear children.
This hurdle connects these both women. But Naina have the advantage of living in the modern century. They try every way they could to have a child.
The story is well developed with these two strong women as the MCs and with the details of the two time periods. Even the geographical setting the author chose perfectly supports the flow of the story. The parallel glide between the two plot was smooth that the switching gone unnoticed.
This is definitely a recommended read.
May 26, 2022
The author goes to and fro between the stories of Padma and Naina. Padma is Naina's ancestor. Naina and her husband Naveen stumble upon the dairies in the dilapated bungalow when they visit Kerala..
The story sets off when Naina wants the dairies to be translated. Though she is not much interested in knowing what encapsulated in the past, Naina and Padma's life converge and resemble more than one expected.
Both Padma and Naina are barren and they face the brunt of it in their personal life's. Pretty, strong headed and ambitious, they have an aura around them which is hard to rub off from our mind.
Their love stories are complicated but one yearns to have such love in their lives. Though both of them have flaws which infuriate people, one cannot but adore their timid heart camouflaged in the outer exterior.
Both are taunted, detested and loved unconditionally. I loved the husband characters - Sheshari and Naveen. Though I got pissed off at Naveen and was not convinced about his actions, Sheshari won over my heart. His love for Padma through trials and tribulations and his demeanor in handling complicated family bonds is amazing.
There are several other characters which one comes across this book. Some make you feel good and some infuriate you. Vinita and Satish character is one which ticked me off. But again, this is the beauty of the author. She wrote in such a way that it evoked numerous emotions in the mind of the reader.
Happy reading 💕
The story sets off when Naina wants the dairies to be translated. Though she is not much interested in knowing what encapsulated in the past, Naina and Padma's life converge and resemble more than one expected.
Both Padma and Naina are barren and they face the brunt of it in their personal life's. Pretty, strong headed and ambitious, they have an aura around them which is hard to rub off from our mind.
Their love stories are complicated but one yearns to have such love in their lives. Though both of them have flaws which infuriate people, one cannot but adore their timid heart camouflaged in the outer exterior.
Both are taunted, detested and loved unconditionally. I loved the husband characters - Sheshari and Naveen. Though I got pissed off at Naveen and was not convinced about his actions, Sheshari won over my heart. His love for Padma through trials and tribulations and his demeanor in handling complicated family bonds is amazing.
There are several other characters which one comes across this book. Some make you feel good and some infuriate you. Vinita and Satish character is one which ticked me off. But again, this is the beauty of the author. She wrote in such a way that it evoked numerous emotions in the mind of the reader.
Happy reading 💕
August 8, 2022
Padma by Mala Mahesh is a woman centric story revolving around two women protagonists spanning for many years of their lives.
Two timelines go in parallel . Kerala in 1900s and present day Mumbai. Padma our protagonist is blessed with beauty with brains. She has it all. Wealth, beauty and intellect.
Naina in present day lives a picture perfect life. Has it all sorted . But is it ? She works in advertising. Has a lovely family and has recently decided to expand it. But what truly remains in the core that is bringing havoc in her life?
There in Kerala Padma is the apple of everyone's eye. Yet she cannot be fully joyous for she cannot enjoy the fruit of life: having kids. What could have been more heart breaking when her own loving husband finally gives in to societal stress and agrees to a second marriage.
Naina here decides to go for IVF. And this is the beginning of the storm that is knocking on her doors.
These two women separated by ages having equal potentials show our society admist all its modernization has still not changed its age old rotten norms and how these affect lives of thousands of women like Padma and Naina.
Will they negotiate with their desires and destiny? Which path will they strive to move forward on ?
It's a story of hope, perseverence, persistence and ultimately winning over patriarchy and building courage through self love !
Recommended for women centric fiction lovers.
Two timelines go in parallel . Kerala in 1900s and present day Mumbai. Padma our protagonist is blessed with beauty with brains. She has it all. Wealth, beauty and intellect.
Naina in present day lives a picture perfect life. Has it all sorted . But is it ? She works in advertising. Has a lovely family and has recently decided to expand it. But what truly remains in the core that is bringing havoc in her life?
There in Kerala Padma is the apple of everyone's eye. Yet she cannot be fully joyous for she cannot enjoy the fruit of life: having kids. What could have been more heart breaking when her own loving husband finally gives in to societal stress and agrees to a second marriage.
Naina here decides to go for IVF. And this is the beginning of the storm that is knocking on her doors.
These two women separated by ages having equal potentials show our society admist all its modernization has still not changed its age old rotten norms and how these affect lives of thousands of women like Padma and Naina.
Will they negotiate with their desires and destiny? Which path will they strive to move forward on ?
It's a story of hope, perseverence, persistence and ultimately winning over patriarchy and building courage through self love !
Recommended for women centric fiction lovers.
June 10, 2022
"It’s alright, her half-smile seemed to convey. Padma will always be your first love, and I’m content with what I have."
All of us tend to make mistakes. But, it takes courage for very few to accept and correct it, move on and make peace.
How painful is it when a woman realizes that she can't bear kids in her womb? Can she remain calm? Will her family, society, etc accept her?
Undoubtedly, this one was a page turner. There was no place where I felt lost or left out. A fantastic job by. So, the story is about two women - Padma from Kerala (1900) and Naina from Mumbai (Present Day). Padma was the step mother of Naina's grandpa.
Padma married Sheshadri. Everyone had their eyes on her, as she had everything in life - Beauty, intelligence, wealth. After five years of their marriage, she realized that she couldn't become pregnant. Sheshadri remarried due to family pressure of producing a heir. Sheshadri's cousin Ramanthan makes notes of all the events at home.
Naina accepted her husband Naveen's plea to start their family life. Neither natural method nor IVF was helpful. She approaches Vinita, Naveen's employee to be the surrogate mother to her kid. She finds Ramanathan's dairy and gets to know the life of Padma and finds some similarity between the two.
A must read, gripping story.
All of us tend to make mistakes. But, it takes courage for very few to accept and correct it, move on and make peace.
How painful is it when a woman realizes that she can't bear kids in her womb? Can she remain calm? Will her family, society, etc accept her?
Undoubtedly, this one was a page turner. There was no place where I felt lost or left out. A fantastic job by. So, the story is about two women - Padma from Kerala (1900) and Naina from Mumbai (Present Day). Padma was the step mother of Naina's grandpa.
Padma married Sheshadri. Everyone had their eyes on her, as she had everything in life - Beauty, intelligence, wealth. After five years of their marriage, she realized that she couldn't become pregnant. Sheshadri remarried due to family pressure of producing a heir. Sheshadri's cousin Ramanthan makes notes of all the events at home.
Naina accepted her husband Naveen's plea to start their family life. Neither natural method nor IVF was helpful. She approaches Vinita, Naveen's employee to be the surrogate mother to her kid. She finds Ramanathan's dairy and gets to know the life of Padma and finds some similarity between the two.
A must read, gripping story.
May 10, 2022
This is such bold and powerful read!
Two women - separated by timeline but going through the same atrocities of a patriarchal society. Their stories are reflections of each other. Between their stories, the timeline has changed but time has hardly changed.
The story spins in two different timelines and two different settings. Naina's story is set in present day Mumbai. She's a successful career woman with a loving husband and a fulfilling life. Padma's story is set in 1900 Kerala. She's a beautiful and wealthy woman who is adored by her husband and mother in law. But what connects their stories is the inability to bear children. Will they be able to challenge the patriarchal society and establish their identity of womanhood beyond the narrow definition of 'being able to bear a child'? This story is a raw description of the challenges and struggles of women who are going through the same.
The theme is bold and fascinating. The plot is intricately woven. Characterisation deserves special appreciation. The language is simple and lucid. The cover design looks so gorgeous. The narration is absolutely engaging and it kept me glued to the story till the end.
Overall this book is indeed a masterpiece!!
A must read!
Two women - separated by timeline but going through the same atrocities of a patriarchal society. Their stories are reflections of each other. Between their stories, the timeline has changed but time has hardly changed.
The story spins in two different timelines and two different settings. Naina's story is set in present day Mumbai. She's a successful career woman with a loving husband and a fulfilling life. Padma's story is set in 1900 Kerala. She's a beautiful and wealthy woman who is adored by her husband and mother in law. But what connects their stories is the inability to bear children. Will they be able to challenge the patriarchal society and establish their identity of womanhood beyond the narrow definition of 'being able to bear a child'? This story is a raw description of the challenges and struggles of women who are going through the same.
The theme is bold and fascinating. The plot is intricately woven. Characterisation deserves special appreciation. The language is simple and lucid. The cover design looks so gorgeous. The narration is absolutely engaging and it kept me glued to the story till the end.
Overall this book is indeed a masterpiece!!
A must read!
May 14, 2022
•A beautiful tale of strong women.
•The story sucked me in from page one itself. I wasn't aware that the story is set in my homeland, Kerala but almost everything in the book was relatable and a sweet reminder of home. Especially the references.
•The follows two timelines that tells a story each. Naina and Padma are two women whose life story makes up the book. Now what's peculiar about this is that the Padma is from 1900s and lives a satisfactory life in Kerala of that time.
•The factor that connects Naina and Padma to each other is their infertility, something that bores down on them even in their respective timelines.
•Now naturally society does what it is good at, make them feel less. Makes them feel threatened because they don't meet society's twisted "expectations".
•All shades of patriarchy is mentioned. Can be a possible trigger.
•I can't believe we still believe in such ridiculous stuff but hey, at least women have started believing in themselves and have started taking the lead. (As they should lol)
•The language is simple and you can catch a few Malayalam words here and there, it just maintains the energy.
•All in all, it's a tear jerker and Padma and Naina are WARRIORS, anyone who fights Patriarchy is.
•Also did you see that cover? Gorgeous right.
•The story sucked me in from page one itself. I wasn't aware that the story is set in my homeland, Kerala but almost everything in the book was relatable and a sweet reminder of home. Especially the references.
•The follows two timelines that tells a story each. Naina and Padma are two women whose life story makes up the book. Now what's peculiar about this is that the Padma is from 1900s and lives a satisfactory life in Kerala of that time.
•The factor that connects Naina and Padma to each other is their infertility, something that bores down on them even in their respective timelines.
•Now naturally society does what it is good at, make them feel less. Makes them feel threatened because they don't meet society's twisted "expectations".
•All shades of patriarchy is mentioned. Can be a possible trigger.
•I can't believe we still believe in such ridiculous stuff but hey, at least women have started believing in themselves and have started taking the lead. (As they should lol)
•The language is simple and you can catch a few Malayalam words here and there, it just maintains the energy.
•All in all, it's a tear jerker and Padma and Naina are WARRIORS, anyone who fights Patriarchy is.
•Also did you see that cover? Gorgeous right.
May 26, 2022
The book "Padma" written by the author "Mala Mahesh" is among the most powerful women centric books I've ever read. The concept plot of the book is indeed beautiful in its own way.
The book focuses over the hardships being faced by the women in our society from a very long time and how some of those challenges are yet so adamant even after modernization in the present day.
The story revolves around two women belonging to different time spaces yet facing the same emotional psychological turmoil by the society.
The girl named Padma was an ideal character in all of her roles acceptable to the society yet faced hardship because she wasn't able to give birth to a child due to medical reasons.
Whereas, in the present day world, Naina, a successful women living happily with her husband in Mumbai is also unable to give birth to a child. But unlike Padma's time, advancemens in medicine had provided the couple a hope through procedures such as IVF to have a baby.
Yet with all such medical advancements, society lashed on Naina and made her face severe emotional and psychological stress. The author had done a fantastic job in outbringing the struggles faced by women in our society. It's a must read book for every one of us.
The book focuses over the hardships being faced by the women in our society from a very long time and how some of those challenges are yet so adamant even after modernization in the present day.
The story revolves around two women belonging to different time spaces yet facing the same emotional psychological turmoil by the society.
The girl named Padma was an ideal character in all of her roles acceptable to the society yet faced hardship because she wasn't able to give birth to a child due to medical reasons.
Whereas, in the present day world, Naina, a successful women living happily with her husband in Mumbai is also unable to give birth to a child. But unlike Padma's time, advancemens in medicine had provided the couple a hope through procedures such as IVF to have a baby.
Yet with all such medical advancements, society lashed on Naina and made her face severe emotional and psychological stress. The author had done a fantastic job in outbringing the struggles faced by women in our society. It's a must read book for every one of us.
May 15, 2022
The book provides an excellent account of Indian society, childbearing, and aristocracy. Two stories from historical times are told in parallel. The author did an amazing job of keeping us glued to our seats throughout this rollercoaster of emotions of hardships endured by our heroes Padma and Naina. With a sprinkling of parallel hardships faced by the two despite the time gap.
The plot revolves around two strong women, Naina and Padma. While Naina's story is set in the present day, Padma's is set in 1900. Their stories are intertwined. Padma and Naina both have the same problem: they can't get pregnant.
While both ladies are clever, rich, and established - living an amazing life but something that's not on their hand's society is blaming it on them.
The concept is a daring and exciting heard-but-unheard story. The narrative is beautifully constructed. Characterization is especially noteworthy. The wording is straightforward to understand. The cover design is stunning. The narration is completely captivating, and it had me captivated by the story till the very end. Must read from my side.
The plot revolves around two strong women, Naina and Padma. While Naina's story is set in the present day, Padma's is set in 1900. Their stories are intertwined. Padma and Naina both have the same problem: they can't get pregnant.
While both ladies are clever, rich, and established - living an amazing life but something that's not on their hand's society is blaming it on them.
The concept is a daring and exciting heard-but-unheard story. The narrative is beautifully constructed. Characterization is especially noteworthy. The wording is straightforward to understand. The cover design is stunning. The narration is completely captivating, and it had me captivated by the story till the very end. Must read from my side.
May 21, 2022
Book Review:
Does the plight of the woman ever change even with the ever-changing times? Are people so stuck with the old ways of things that they just do not evolve? Is patriarchy only a thing of the past? Do women perpetrate patriarchy? Lastly, are women just baby-making machines? Is there nothing more to them than that?
Well, I hope I have been able to roughly summarise what Padma is about. The story follows the lives and struggles of two women - Padma and Naina - separated by timeline, united in their plight. I would not get into the story as it deserves to be read by everyone. However, I would like to share my experience with it. I kind of went into it with a bit of apprehension, but, I was satisfied with the execution and the presentation of the story. I loved the portrayal of the protagonists as well as the family members. As a woman, you would be able to empathise with the situations and really feel for them. The language and the conversations were kept quite casual so as to gel well with most of the readers. Mala Mahesh has, indeed, done a great job with this book. Looking forward to reading more from her. Happy reading!
Does the plight of the woman ever change even with the ever-changing times? Are people so stuck with the old ways of things that they just do not evolve? Is patriarchy only a thing of the past? Do women perpetrate patriarchy? Lastly, are women just baby-making machines? Is there nothing more to them than that?
Well, I hope I have been able to roughly summarise what Padma is about. The story follows the lives and struggles of two women - Padma and Naina - separated by timeline, united in their plight. I would not get into the story as it deserves to be read by everyone. However, I would like to share my experience with it. I kind of went into it with a bit of apprehension, but, I was satisfied with the execution and the presentation of the story. I loved the portrayal of the protagonists as well as the family members. As a woman, you would be able to empathise with the situations and really feel for them. The language and the conversations were kept quite casual so as to gel well with most of the readers. Mala Mahesh has, indeed, done a great job with this book. Looking forward to reading more from her. Happy reading!
May 21, 2022
Padma is written by Mala Mahesh. I picked this book because i loved it's cover. It's so precisely made and beautiful.
This book talks about two ladies, NAINA and PADMA, who have lived their life in two different time periods, but have suffered the same issue, faced the same problems from the society.
The similarities between both of them is that Naina and Padma are both capable of doing everything except giving birth to a child. But that's not what author has highlighted in the story. The fact is both have to face the same issues from the society. Even though both lived hundred years apart, yet they faced same brutalities of society, their taunts, their illogical accusations, the struggles were same for both to live a happy life.
The storyline is amazing, i loved the way author has narrated it all. Emotions and situations are so well portrayed, and delivered !! I totally loved reading this book. It's one of the must read book for a person, i would suggest. Reading this book has left me in the urge to read more and know more about the characters. As what might have happened next. Once i started to read, there's was no stop to that. It's very captivating.
This book talks about two ladies, NAINA and PADMA, who have lived their life in two different time periods, but have suffered the same issue, faced the same problems from the society.
The similarities between both of them is that Naina and Padma are both capable of doing everything except giving birth to a child. But that's not what author has highlighted in the story. The fact is both have to face the same issues from the society. Even though both lived hundred years apart, yet they faced same brutalities of society, their taunts, their illogical accusations, the struggles were same for both to live a happy life.
The storyline is amazing, i loved the way author has narrated it all. Emotions and situations are so well portrayed, and delivered !! I totally loved reading this book. It's one of the must read book for a person, i would suggest. Reading this book has left me in the urge to read more and know more about the characters. As what might have happened next. Once i started to read, there's was no stop to that. It's very captivating.
June 6, 2022
I was sure to add this book in my 'TBR' just after reading it's Blurb and to be frank I had high expectations.
The captivating and beautiful Book cover would make any reader to fall for it.
As I started reading, I was immensely grateful for the Author for writing this book.
The way the environment is set up for both the Protagonist characters is too joyful to read.
The impressive part of the book is, it has showcased the beauty of women's desires and her bondage towards new generation beautifully.
Both the characters being different from one another yet one thing thread of desire connects them both.
Although the book is lengthy, not even a single time I felt the need to take a break.
As I am a night reader, everyday I returned to bed more excited to know how the story would proceed. It took me three long days or I can say Three nights and I must say the time I spent reading this book was the best.
The plot is not only fascinating and sensitive but also relative.. Coming up from a traditional family that is neither Liberal nor conservative, I could experience the plot in my mind. This book is truly a treat for any female reader.
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The captivating and beautiful Book cover would make any reader to fall for it.
As I started reading, I was immensely grateful for the Author for writing this book.
The way the environment is set up for both the Protagonist characters is too joyful to read.
The impressive part of the book is, it has showcased the beauty of women's desires and her bondage towards new generation beautifully.
Both the characters being different from one another yet one thing thread of desire connects them both.
Although the book is lengthy, not even a single time I felt the need to take a break.
As I am a night reader, everyday I returned to bed more excited to know how the story would proceed. It took me three long days or I can say Three nights and I must say the time I spent reading this book was the best.
The plot is not only fascinating and sensitive but also relative.. Coming up from a traditional family that is neither Liberal nor conservative, I could experience the plot in my mind. This book is truly a treat for any female reader.
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May 25, 2022
Interesting Plotline
Mala Mahesh has intricately written this impressive plot.
Theme: Conservative patriarchal thinking struggles to stay aloof from modern yet acceptable views. Women who are enemies of another woman unintentionally seek the same thing. Parenthood.
Padma has relatable characters, the plotline is straightforward yet powerful. One will laugh and cry at the same time. It is a story of 2 females wanting to be a mother to the extent, that they can surpass anything. I was in awe with Padma's and Seshadhri's personalities. Whereas Naveen was also a good character too but Naina was annoying. It is story of past and present and easy transition between the two enable us to read different mindset at the same time.
•Takeaways
1. Importance of Parenthood.
2. Your personality must be attractive.
3. Parenthood doesn't define with the same DNA child.
4. Twist and turns in life keep you alive.
Altogether, I learned a new definition of parenthood and loss of a mother, and why mothers are so defensive. Relationships can be found anywhere.
Mala Mahesh has intricately written this impressive plot.
Theme: Conservative patriarchal thinking struggles to stay aloof from modern yet acceptable views. Women who are enemies of another woman unintentionally seek the same thing. Parenthood.
Padma has relatable characters, the plotline is straightforward yet powerful. One will laugh and cry at the same time. It is a story of 2 females wanting to be a mother to the extent, that they can surpass anything. I was in awe with Padma's and Seshadhri's personalities. Whereas Naveen was also a good character too but Naina was annoying. It is story of past and present and easy transition between the two enable us to read different mindset at the same time.
•Takeaways
1. Importance of Parenthood.
2. Your personality must be attractive.
3. Parenthood doesn't define with the same DNA child.
4. Twist and turns in life keep you alive.
Altogether, I learned a new definition of parenthood and loss of a mother, and why mothers are so defensive. Relationships can be found anywhere.
Read
May 26, 2022It is always good to read fiction based on powerful stories. This book, 'Padma' written by Mala Mahesh, was somewhat like those types of stories to me. It is appreciable how the author has shown the common factors between the two stories while both of them have a difference of more than a decade. The best part about the book is the main characters, so powerful and interesting to read. I can't leave without praising other characters as well, they have an equal part in the story as the main protagonists and some characters made me fall in love with them, and the remaining didn't receive anything apart from hatred.
Talking a bit about the story, two stories of married women progress side by side. The author gives us a glimpse of their similar life, which starts with utmost love and affection but the ending doesn't go as well as it had to be. The plot seems too basic but it's not. I liked the way the author has described the characters, places and events in the story. The language used is straightforward. Recommendable!
Talking a bit about the story, two stories of married women progress side by side. The author gives us a glimpse of their similar life, which starts with utmost love and affection but the ending doesn't go as well as it had to be. The plot seems too basic but it's not. I liked the way the author has described the characters, places and events in the story. The language used is straightforward. Recommendable!
May 26, 2022
"Padma" by author Mala Mahesh is a beautiful story about two protagonist named Padma and Naina where two women going through exactly same problem of atrocities and patriarchal society. The story of Padma and Naina are two parallel stories of different eras. Here, the story of Padma is showing in 1900 whereas the story of Naina in present day and both of them having one common aspect that is they cannot get pregnant.
The author also has wonderfully expressed a plethora of emotions through the story. A book so vast and massive in its content will make a good choice for your next read and one that is highly unlikely to disappoint.
Furthermore, the character sketch of every character is brilliantly done and deserves so much praise as it makes the story what it is and much more. I really enjoyed reading this book, I would recommend it to everyone. I wouldn't want to give any spoilers so do give it a read. It is presented in a very unique manner that the reader enjoys reading and understanding it thoroughly.
The author also has wonderfully expressed a plethora of emotions through the story. A book so vast and massive in its content will make a good choice for your next read and one that is highly unlikely to disappoint.
Furthermore, the character sketch of every character is brilliantly done and deserves so much praise as it makes the story what it is and much more. I really enjoyed reading this book, I would recommend it to everyone. I wouldn't want to give any spoilers so do give it a read. It is presented in a very unique manner that the reader enjoys reading and understanding it thoroughly.
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