Small Remedies

Shashi Deshpande’s latest novel explores the lives of two women one obsessed with music and the other a passionate believer in Communism who break away from their families to seek fulfillment in public life. Savitribai Indorekar born into an orthodox Hindu family elopes with her Muslim lover and accompanist Ghulaam Saab to pursue a career in music. Gentle strong-willed Leela on the other hand gives her life to the Party and to working with the factory workers of Bombay. Fifty years after these events have been set in motion Madhu Leela’s niece travels to Bhavanipur Savitribai’s home in her last years to write a biography of Bai. Caught in her own despair over the loss of her only son Aditya Madhu tries to make sense of the lives of Bai and those around her and in doing so find a way out of her own grief. About the Author Shashi Deshpande is the author of five novel besides Small Remedies including That Long Silence which won the Sahitya Akademi Award. Her publications include five collections of short stories four books for children and two short crime novels. Her works have been translated into various European and Indian languages.Shashi Deshpande is married and has two sons. She lives in Bangalore with her husband Dr. D.H. Deshpande.