''Mahashweta'' is a Kannada novel by Indian author

Sudha Murthy Sudha Murty (' Kulkarni; born 19 August 1951) is an Indian educator, author and philanthropist who is chairperson of the Infosys F ...

which concerns a female protagonist named "Anupama". The novel deals with the issue of

leukoderma Vitiligo is a disorder that causes the skin to lose its color. Specific causes are unknown but studies suggest a link to immune system changes. Signs and symptoms The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmen ...

. A Marathi novel by

Sumati Kshetramade Sumati Kshetramade (Devanagari: सुमती क्षेत्रमाडे) (7 March 1913 – 1997) was an India Marathi writer from Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a state in the western peninsular region of Ind ...

deals with the same topic (leukoderma), and concerns a female protagonist named "Anupama". In 1998–99, a series based on this story was telecasted on

Doordarshan Doordarshan (abbreviated as DD; Hindi: , ) is an Indian public service broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. One of India's largest bro ...

of the same name.

Aishwarya Narkar Aishwarya Narkar is an Indian actress who has appeared in Marathi films, serials and plays and has also appeared in numerous Hindi serials. She has also appeared in commercials. Filmography Stage Television Feature Films References ...

(Radha), Avinash Narkar (Madhav) and Ashalata (Kaku) played the lead roles.Murthy says she learned of the Marathi novel only after finishing writing her Kannada novel.

Plot

The name Mahashweta is derived from a Sanskrit play. Anupama is a college girl from a poor family. She is beautiful and intelligent. She gets married to Anand, a doctor from an upper family. The marriage was proposed by Anand and agreed by both the families. However, the in-laws are immoral and cruel to her. Anand is indifferent to his family's treatment of Anupama. While he is abroad for his studies, Anupama discovers she has leukoderma. Soon, her in-laws expel her from the house, and she is forced to seek refuge in her own home, but her step mother and half sisters taunt her. Anand does not reply to her letters, and Anupama's father becomes helpless. Anupama receives help from her friend, Sumitra, and departs to Bombay. She takes up a clerical job, and later becomes a lecturer in college. Meanwhile, she leaves Sumitra's house because of Hari (Sumitra's husband), who tried to molest her. A friend from her previous job rents her house to Anupama. Gradually, Anupama becomes free from the people of her past. She befriends Dr, Vasant, who treated her after an accident and Dr. Satya. Years after Anand gets information about Anupama and meets her. He offers to rejoin together, but Anupama rejects.

Characters

*Anupama - main character *Dr. Anand - Anupama's husband *Sumithra - Anupama's friend *Radhakka - Anupama's mother-in-law *Girija - Anupama's sister-in-law *Shamanna - Anupama's father *Dr. Vasanth - Anupama's friend *Dr. Satya - Dr. Vasant's colleague (also Anupama's friend) *Dolly - Anupama's friend and colleague *Sabakka - Anupama's stepmother *Nanda - Anupama's stepsister *Hari - Sumithra's husband

References

{{Reflist Year of work missing Kannada novels 2000 Indian novels