Kavita Kané is one of my favorite Indian authors. I stumbled upon her book ” Karna’s wife” a few years back and since then I have read her works and never failed to love them. Her way of re-telling the epics and bringing to light the lesser known woman characters has always been bewitching.This International Women’s day, it’s a pleasure sharing the conversation I had with Mrs.Kané.
Thank you so much for taking out time to answer the questions and gracing the blog with your presence .So tell us, how did you happen to become a writer.?
Because I loved to write! At school I was very good at essays. I took up English Literature and later journalism for this same love. I have been a journalist for the last 20 years but it was only with my debut book – Karna’s Wife- that I actually handled creative writing for the first time! The success of this book gave me courage to write the next and the next and the next!
What inspired you to write about the over-looked woman characters form our epics.?
It wasn’t intentional. I started with Uruvi, a fictional character. Urmila was my most loved character for whom my heart went out for when I first read the Ramayan. That’s why Sita’s Sister came about. Then I stumbled upon the fascinating live story of Menaka and the apsara bewitched me too! Then I guess these smaller characters I found more intriguing simply because we didn’t know much about them. With Surpanakha I decided to delve into a supposedly negative character but all I wanted was to tell her story not want to paint her either a saint or a sinner, victim or vamp. My latest book on Satyavati is again almost a blindsided character who was ironically responsible for all the drama politics and hostility that led to the bloody war of Kurukshetra.
Well, I like Urmila out of all the characters you’ve sketched. Who is your favorite?And why?
Urmila! And the sister gang which I closely relate to as we are three sisters and all of us have daughters! Urmila was whom I wanted to write my debut book on. And The second time, eventually I did manage to write on her. Her wait was her strength, her spiritual evolvement and her growth as a woman. Tears were never her refuge.
What do you think of the sudden boom of Indie authors, especially in the mythology genre.?
Good! There are so many tales , so many characters in mythology that need to be told. I think readers have a wider choice!
How do you see your success as an author.?
I think the readers would know it better! I see it as my personal growth as a writer and as a person as well.
What is biggest challenge of being an author.?
To express your thoughts consistently through the 300-odd pages of a book and make it readable for the readers! Eventually your book should be read. And hopefully liked and enjoyed!
Do you have your favorite writing space.?
Yes. By the French window overlooking the tall palms in my garden!
Fiction or non-fiction.Which one do you prefer to read.?
Fiction.
Probably many would have asked this to you. What’s next.?
Another book on another fascinating woman!
This women’s day, what message would you like to share with the women folk.?
Respect yourself as a person first, be proud of yourself. The rest will follow.
About the author:
A senior journalist with a career of over two decades, which includes working for Magna publication and DNA, she quit her job as Assistant Editor of Times of India to devote herself as a full time author.
Karna’s Wife her debut novel, (2013)was a bestseller. Her second novel – Sita’s Sister (2014) also deals with another enigmatic personality – Urmila, probably the most overlooked character in the Ramayan. Menaka’s Choice(2015) ,another best-seller, is about the famous apsara and her infamous liaison with Vishwamitra the man she was sent to destroy. Lanka’s Princess (2016) is her fourth book based on Ravan’s sister, Surpanakha, the Princess of Lanka who was also its destroyer. Fisher Queen’s Dynasty is her latest book based on Queen Satyavati from Mahabarata.
Photo Credits : Kavita Kané
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