CAFE
COM:PORT
CHAT JOCKEYS
EVENTS

The Shobha De Chat

Mannn, she writes putrid sex for money, clear and simple. The 'Indian woman' constituency stuff is for the birds. Transalated from basic Hindi porn into English hehehehe (-*-)

Ms bamzai, I bet you are the Indian Express gal. I used to admire your work when I was in India. I think I know how old Shobha De is. She is 49.

Hi Shobha! There's is one question that's had me wondering for a long time and I'm still no nearer to an answer. Why do Indian women let themselves go after marriage? Why do they put on so much weight and, for a race that is so inherently beautiful, how on earth do they manage to look so dowdy?

Pramoda: I must clarify that I have nothing to do with the university process . I did not set out to write text books in the first place; perhaps this question ought to be addressed to those who control the curriculum . However, I am flattered and also a little amused by their choice. In fact, I have just recieved two post graduates papers presented by students of the university of London on my book Starry

(more) Nights .There are several very gifted women writers from the sub-continent today. This is been a great decade in publishing terms for first time female novelists. That has been possible because of the commercial success enjoyed by some of us. Do remember publishers keep a beady eye on the bottomline. They do not susbidse duds.

Mrs. De seeing the men these days, what are your predictions for them in about 10 years or 20? would you say men will always be men?

Ms De: Please answer my question, In our country if women do not get married and are economically dependant on their families, what is their future in our country???? WEEP, WEEP, WEEP, ALL THEIR LIVES??? Ms DE, Please answer??

Dear Ms De, Thanks for taking time out and sending a nice, long reply. In answer to that I must share with you the fact that I have three sisters and there never was any discrimination. Nor did I feel `special'.

do you still write for swabhimaan or has a committee taken over? and are you serious about working with dev benegal on a film?

Another curious question Ms De...what discipline do you maintain in your writing?

Hi Ms. Shobha De... What do your novels depict?

Ajiraj,most Indian women literally become doormats for their husband & kids neglecting themselves in the bargain,right Shoba?

ms de, please, please put sealand mog out of his misery. or do you want your husband to do it?

Kaavere: With great pleasure I'm 49 years old.

Ajiraj: Very often marriage is seen as the ultimate goal. Once having achieved it there is no motivation and incentive left. All that is rapidly changing as can be seen from the proliferation of fitness centres all over India Most women's magazines devote chunky sections for chunky women who can't wait to let the slim one out of their overwieght bodies. In fact there is a fitness mania raging all over India. Chances are we'll get to see slimmer silhouettes in the years to come.

How much did you charge to get on this show, the usual Rs 10000/= (that's how much she asked us Nikhil....) No reply??

ms de, please, please put sealand mog out of his misery.

I like the stuff you write; it's makes for excellent time pass reading. I would definitely pick up your next book and make it a point to read your columns, but do you honestly feel that your books merit being included as part of a university syllabus course in English literature? Or is this just an indication of the dearth of talented female writers?

mrs. De have you read that article on ARRANGED MARRIAGES on the internet? if so i would really like you hear your opinion on it otherwisei suggest it as a reading.

MS Shoba Where are you logged in from? It is nice of you to talk to us Rediff lovers from all over the world

Dear Ms De, Western civilisation has gone through this kind of turbulence a few decades ago. Women have become stronger and many men are willing to listen to them and accept their equality given the gender differences but still things aren't hunky-dory. The family unit is deteriorating in a big way. Tell me, what can a man do if he can't have a baby ? Madonna says it's a joke God played on women. I think that that's a woman's greatest strength. What do you feel ?

Corina: I am a complete fiend for discipline. I write like a woman possessed for four concentrated hours a day. Anything more and I feel exhausted and dried out. There is no other route I'm afraid and I don't believe in the luxury of waiting for inspiration. I can't afford it. I have daily deadlines to meet and I often average 10,000 words a week. That's a lot of slog, a lot of sweat but also a lot of fun. But there are times when I do fantasise about belonging to the ladies who lunch club.

your other children must be very peeved. arundhati, going by your columns, seems to be your favourite child, or at least the most curious and troublesome.

Ms De, I repeat ..in your perception how has the Indian woman changed in the 90s?

Kaveree Bamzai : I'm not in misery, I just research some of the major frauds we have on this show here, and love to see their posturing go 'phutttt' when they are asked true stuff, not the stuff their PR types get put out...

Thanks, Ms De. I've got a really personal question for you - I hope you'll answer it. I saw in tears once - at the Horniman Circle garden. Someone had organised some kind of meeting for cancer patients and you were on a makeshift stage talking when I saw you break down. I don't know why that happened - and I'm sorry if I'm touching a raw nerve - but I've always wondered what made a woman as strong as you are collapse like that!

Ms Shoba De what do you think of meeting your opposite through the internet? Is it a good way

your other children must be very peeved. arundhati, going by your columns, seems to be your favourite child, or at least the most curious and troublesome.

God created man before creating woman, because you need a rough draft befor eyou creat a masterpiece. are you familiar with this 'saying' mrs. de?

MRS. DE HOW DO YOUR CHILDREN REACT TO YOUR BOOKS?

Ms De, in your long association with journalism, what has been your journalistic highpoint?

Shoba you are very attractive for your age! Do you workout?

Dr Krishnamurthy: Several women experienced a sense of smugness at what is after all a simple biological fact ----- that they bring life into the world . For me childbearing has been a deeply fulfilling and a magical exprience. But I see no reason to mystify it . I'm a great admirer of Madonna. But I also believe that a child needs both parents and I shudder to visualise a futuristic scenario where it might be possible for a mother or a father to go shopping for a baby at the nearest neighbourhood sperm bank.

Why is marriage becoming the focus of attention these days? Over the last three or four months - most magazines have devoted a chunk of their pages to this topic - Outlook, India Today and Femina are cases in point. Why is equality between the sexes suddenly under the spotlight?

Veeresh, Shobha is appearing on the Chat, gratis. I have worked with her in the early eighties and can assure you that she is a wonderful human being and a great person to work with.

Naaaah, I guess this wasn't one of your bright ideas, REDIFF. Broadly speaking, all this lady does is give single men a hard time, if you get what I mean...broad(ly).... but, like everything else, what goes up must come down, so it is with hard times...

Thanks, Ms De. I've got a really personal question for you - I hope you'll answer it. I saw in tears once - at the Horniman Circle garden. Someone had organised some kind of meeting for cancer patients and you were on a makeshift stage talking when I saw you break down. I don't know why that happened - and I'm sorry if I'm touching a raw nerve - but I've always wondered what made a woman as strong as you are collapse like that!

Don't you ever worry about giving other women a complex?

Amit: When people tell me that I feel like an onion pickled in vinegar. I often joke when women ask me 'How come you are so well preserved?' That I soak myself in vinegar overnight. I wonder if some of them take me seriously and try it for themselves. Yes I do workout, but I'm not a fitness freak, I believe in smart eating and simple living, just like Gandhiji who also recommeded high thinking to the basic list. I'm working towards that.

what are you writing after surviving men? surviving women?

MRS. DE, DO YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT MEN WILL ALWAYS BE MEN NO MATTER WHAT?

Why aren't you answering my question? Is it because I have a south Indian name. Not upmarket enough?

Why is marriage becoming the focus of attention these days? Over the last three or four months - most magazines have devoted a chunk of their pages to this topic - Outlook, India Today and Femina are cases in point. Why is equality between the sexes suddenly under the spotlight?

MRS.DE, WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS..YOU ARE ONE FOR A LOT OF US? BUT WHOM DO YOU ADMIRE?

Shoba My mom is your age and she has some health problems associated with menopause... what kind of lifestlyle do you recommend for her

dear visalakshi, from kaveree: yes, i am the very one. thanks.

mrs. de could you answer atleast one ? of mine. i have been here since 9:30 and haven't got one single reply?

Corina: I think my strength lies in being a good ideas person. I enjoy start up operations. A new project, a new magazine, a new column, a new novel, that's what gets the adrenalin going. In a career spanning 25 years it is virtually impossible to single out a high point. All I can say is like Frank Sinatara, 'I've done it my way'. and enjoyed every moment of it.

Sajida: Even the strongest of women have their vulnerable of moments or they wouldn't be human. I feel deeply affected by the suffering of children because it makes me feel doubly protective about my own. It is also a sense of powerlessness when faced by something as awesome as seeing a toddler with leukemia. That brings on the tears.

Don't you ever worry about giving other women a complex?

Photographs: Jewella Miranda