Shubha Khandekar, 53, has been a journalist for the past 25 years with various newspapers and magazines, writing in Marathi as well as English. She has translated three books from Marathi to English, including the famous street play Mulgi Zali Ho by Jyoti Mhapsekar. She researched and wrote historical titles for Amar Chitra Katha and was an editorial consultant with Newshouse, a weekly newspaper for children. As associate editor with Dignity Dialogue, she wrote on issues concerning senior citizens. She has also published articles on women’s issues and disability related issues.
Please tell us about yourself.
I am 53, live in Mumbai with my daughter who is 19+ and is learning Art. Have been a journalist for long, with more experience on the editing side than writing. Have translated three books from Marathi to English. Wrote biographies of three foreign travellers who visited India in ancient times, in comic book format. Have written for children, senior citizens. Have been associated with the women’s movement.
How long have you been writing?
My first writing for bread and butter happened in 1981 – that’s a good 29 years ago – and before that people told me they would keep the personal letters I wrote them!
How did you start writing?
I was always a poor student, except in languages, which I did reasonably well and gave me a kick. English, Hindi, Marathi, rudiments of Kannada acquired in school days, a bit of Bengali and a smattering of German: I enjoyed all of it, though some of it is now beyond recall. A very high score in Sanskrit and a decent one in English helped me aggregate a first class in the school leaving board exam.
After that there was a dark period of about nine years when I acquired a post grad in history, a diploma in archaeology and made an unsuccessful attempt at Ph D in archaeology. Didn’t do too badly, though it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. One fine day I had to abruptly abandon this track altogether and look for gainful employment, due to some unpleasant developments in the family. I applied to the first job I came across, which was for a trainee journalist in a local English daily, stood first among all the applicants, and have been scrawling since, for better or for worse.
What do you love about writing?
Lovely question, but very difficult to answer. Where do I begin?
Writing gives a tangible shape to my thoughts, my feelings, my hopes, fears, dreams, vagaries. Writing makes it possible to share these with whoever is willing. Writing is a hand that I can easily stretch out to seek friendship, empathy, intellectual and emotional fulfilment. It is an extension of myself to the world, a sum total of my possible two-bit value-add to what I have received from the world around me.
And finally, the pen IS mightier. I have seen tears in the eyes of old people who asked me how I came to know what they wanted to say, after I published their interviews or stories. These are deeply moving experiences.
What is your favourite piece of writing? Tell us about it.
ONE piece? Why are you doing this to me?
Ok, I’ll try. Abraham Lincoln’s famous letter to his son’s headmaster. Googlable, and speaks for itself, no need for me to pontificate.
Who are your favourite writers and what are your favourite books?
Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is an all time favourite. Also, Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals. Gabriel García Márquez, Noam Chomsky, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle. Will Durant: all his books. Desmond Morris: The Naked Ape. P G Wodehouse. George Gamow’s books on astronomy. Gordon Childe and Stuart Piggott on archaeology. Leon Uris. Richard Gordon’s Doctor series. Spike Milligan. George Mikes: travelogues.
What kind of writing do you hate? Any turn-offs?
Religion/ spirituality and science fiction.
Did you face any challenges in your writing career? Tell us how you dealt with them.
Not really, writing always came easily to me. None of my writing has ever been rejected.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What do you do about it?
I get it quite frequently. I usually do the following:
- Just get up and go away, do something else. Look out of the window, wash clothes, chat with the toddler next door, listen to music: anything that’s not even remotely connected with writing. After some time one is able to make a scratch.
- Sleep over it. Hit the keyboard first thing in the morning. Words will trickle, then flow, then gush.
- Write a plain simple diary of the day’s events. Once done, try to embellish individual events with better words, smarter expressions, more elaborate descriptions. It usually works.
- Write a personal letter to someone close to you. You don’t have to send it, unless the results are outstanding. They often are. Makes the two of you happy!
- Take an interesting news item from the newspaper and rewrite it in your own words, add a bit of spice if you can. Generates thought, which produces words.
What is the best feedback you received about your work?
“How did you know this is what I had wanted to say?”
Who is your biggest critic?
Myself.
What do you think makes Chillibreeze writers different?
They are VERY contemporary in their expressions and choice of subjects. In spite of being market driven, there is no compromise on professionalism.
How do you see the internet changing the way writing works?
Writers now need to be much more concise, precise, focused. Quality has become very essential today.
What has writing taught you about life?
Use writing as a tool, not as a weapon.
What inspires you to write?
I have mostly worked as a journalist, so it’s usually driven by what is journalistically newsworthy.
What would your autobiography/ biography be called?
Too early to think of that! How about `Still Scribbling’?
What is your dream as a writer? Any publications you’d like to see your work in?
I would consider it an accomplishment to be able to write the biographies of people I admire. Which is possible if they develop such a confidence in me as to share the story with me: a long, but worthwhile journey. And I’d like to see my work published in the Economic & Political Weekly.
What kind of mistakes do you think new writers usually make?
Use of clichés, using two words where one will do, thinking about yourself rather than the reader, lack of attention to the basics of GSP (grammar, spelling, punctuation), lack of focus.
Do you have any advice for writers who are starting out on their careers?
Read, read, read. Internalise the language. Learn to recognise pulp. Acquiring a good vocabulary requires tremendous perseverance, but it’s worth the effort. Avoid adverbs, minimise adjectives. Try to relate your writing to the larger canvas of life.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself? Perhaps something interesting about you, that people are always surprised to hear?
I love Hindustani classical music and my secret ambition is to be able to sing one day – doesn’t look likely though, so late in the day. I do hand embroidery whenever I find the time. When I need a break I head straight for the Himalayas, and wish I never had to come back to the grind.
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Comments:
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hey Shubha,, This means you are now a well known celebrity.. It has always been an honor to be associated with you. Hope you give us many many more reasons to smile, apart from your positive energy and the enthusiasm that you have imparted to me.
Lots of love, always.
Neha.