Back to top.   

QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Shobhan Bantwal answers readers' questions about the challenges of writing about such a difficult topic as dowry murders in THE DOWRY BRIDE, emigrating and assimilating to American culture, and plans for future books.

Chris from Augusta, KS: Did you have friends who suffered this fate? And if so, did they ever get out?

Shobhan Bantwal: Chris, first of all, I want to thank you for your wonderful comments about THE DOWRY BRIDE. They were very heartwarming.

To answer your question, I don’t know anyone personally who suffered this fate. I was fortunate to be born in an enlightened family and community that didn’t believe in dowry. My own marriage and everyone else’s in my family never involved any dowry exchange. It was from newspapers and radio that I heard about dowry deaths and dowry-related abuse. In the present Internet age, with the proliferation of blogs and online articles, there is considerably more material available on the topic than when I was growing up in India.

There was an interesting case four years ago, when an Indian bride-to-be was so outraged at her future in-laws’ dowry demands that she called the police and had them arrested in the marriage hall. The story made international headlines and the young lady, Nisha Sharma, became an overnight sensation. She appeared on one of the American network magazine shows. If you are interested, here is the article about her published in 2003.

Danielle from Havertown, PA: Was it difficult to write about the issue of dowry murders?

Shobhan Bantwal: Danielle, I would like to thank you for your encouraging comments about THE DOWRY BRIDE.

In response to your question, it was not all that difficult to write about the issue of dowry murders, mainly because I did not include a scene involving an actual murder. I don’t believe I could bring myself to write a gruesome scene like that. But what was emotional was putting myself in Megha’s shoes, seeing through her eyes and living her life every time I wrote a chapter in her point of view. Imagine how difficult it must be for a sheltered and naïve young woman to realize she’s going to be killed by her own family and she has no place to go, no means to support herself and no money even for her next meal. So from that perspective, it was tough writing the story.

But on another level, I enjoyed writing it because Megha’s story is one of hope and triumph in the face of adversity, and an example of the resilience of the human spirit. I happen to like stories that educate and entertain at the same time, and also end on a positive or hopeful note. I crafted THE DOWRY BRIDE to include those elements.

Emilee from Alexandria, IN: When will you write another book? What will the book be about?

Shobhan Bantwal: Emilee, you said some very nice things about THE DOWRY BRIDE, and I thank you for your remarks.

I have a two-book contract with my publisher, Kensington Books, so yes, I will write another one. At the moment, I’m rolling around some ideas with my editor and waiting to hear her opinion. I can definitely say the second book will be set in contemporary India, and the subject will highlight some other social/cultural issue.

Janet from Hot Springs, AK: Why is there was such an emphasis on the characters knowing and speaking English?

Shobhan Bantwal: Janet, thanks for reading THE DOWRY BRIDE and offering some very positive comments.

Since the book is written and published in English in the U.S. and Canada, I had to have the characters speak the language. I also had to translate every Indian word so my readers could better appreciate the story. Besides, a large section of India’s population is educated in English. In fact, it is the official language in India, where court proceedings, government documents and office business are conducted in English. In today’s India, the global economy has opened up a wide spectrum of job opportunities precisely because of its vast English-educated workforce.

Linda from Aurora, CO: Who is the primary audience for this book?

Shobhan Bantwal: Linda, thank you for taking the time to read THE DOWRY BRIDE.

My book’s primary audience is women of all ages. It is mainstream women’s fiction with romantic elements. I receive a large amount of e-mail and personal feedback from teenagers and young adults, to senior citizens and all ages in between who tell me they have enjoyed the book. There are book clubs that have members of various ages who seem to be pleased with it. What is even more gratifying is to get positive feedback from men from different age groups. I recently heard from a young software engineer in Chicago who said he sat up all night to read my book, and an elderly retired army colonel who spent a small portion of his pension check on it and thought it was money well spent.

Reeca from Ripley, MS: I would love to know how you adapted to living in the United States compared to living in India. How much of a "culture shock" was it?

Shobhan Bantwal: Thank you, Reeca, for your compliments about THE DOWRY BRIDE. Your enthusiasm for my writing is very much appreciated.

Both “culture shock” and “climate shock” struck me hard when I first arrived in the U.S. on a cold, blustery March evening in 1974. I was dressed in a silk sari that bloated like a balloon in the wind and a flimsy Indian-made coat that provided scant protection against the late-winter temperatures in the Northeast. As for getting acclimated to the culture, after being raised in a strict and conservative home in India, I was delighted to discover the emancipated American way of life and absorbed it like a sponge in no time at all. My husband and I became American citizens more than 26 years ago and we have wholeheartedly embraced this country, the melting-pot culture and the people. It has been our home for over 34 years and hopefully will be for the rest of our lives.

© Copyright 1996-2008, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.

Back to top.