Dipavali Sen is a retired Associate Professor of Economics from Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Delhi University. She writes on mythological as well as contemporary themes. She has presented papers at international conferences in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand and is a Life Member of the Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC). Her work includes short stories in popular magazines like Children's World and Tinkle, novels for children, and research-based articles in reputed national and international journals. She has recently come out with the book Rishika.

I chat with her about her book Rishika, what inspired her to write this novel, book recommendations, and much more.

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself!

I, Dipavali (Sen) Debroy, am a retired Associate Professor from Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Delhi University, and am currently based in Gurgaon, Haryana. But my favourite occupation is writing, especially for children, on mythological as well as contemporary themes.

My work ranges from books and short stories in popular magazines to research-based articles in reputed national and international journals. I have written in children’s magazines (Children’s World and Tinkle) and in collections brought out by Children’s Book Trust (CBT), Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC), Madhuban Educational Books, Ponytail Books and Ratna Sagar. I have long been a Life Member of the Association of AWIC.

Rishika is my first novel for adults.

If you could describe your book Rishika only in one sentence, what would it be?

Rishika offers rare insights of the lives and feelings of women sages of ancient India to the modern mind.

Now tell us a little more about the book! What can readers expect?

Rishika provides glimpses into the life of a middle-aged working woman living by herself in the city, subtly comparing and contrasting it with women in ancient India who pursued spiritualities and had stark, single lives. The readers are taken into an overnight journey into the experiences of Gargi, Apala and so on, and realize that they were women of flesh and blood despite being intellectuals or philosophers. They get to learn more than is usually known about women sages, especially in comparison with the males.

What inspired you to write this book?

I have always taken interest in Sanskrit, philosophy and mythology. In doing so, I have felt that while there is a lot written and read on the woman in the family set-up, there is little about the single woman. We know so much about goddesses, queens, princesses, or celestial nymphs. But we do not know enough about our rishikas or women sages, who too had interesting things happening to them. It is this gap that intrigued and inspired me.

Please describe your character Ila to readers who might not yet be familiar with who she is and what she’s dealing with?

Ila is a working woman living alone in a flat in Gurgaon. She is efficient and interested in her job, and no longer in her first youth. Her life has not been smooth. She has had to cope with a lot single-handedly. Occasionally she has sleepless nights. It is on one such sleepless night that Ila happens to read on women sages of Vedic and Epic times, and has a cathartic experience.

What is the message that you want readers to take away from this book?

Despite momentous socio-economic and techno-cultural changes, men and women continue to have the same need for love and romance, the same problem of loneliness and disappointment, and the same ability to struggle and cope. The ancient past has a lot to teach. We must explore it, especially its lesser known areas. One way would be to develop an interest in ancient texts, available now in English as well as vernacular languages.

How have you been coping with the current pandemic and what will be the new normal for you post it?

It has been rather easy for me as I live alone – and am a bit of a recluse any way! The usual combination of mask-soap-sanitizer-vaccines has worked so far. But now the situation is improving, and I hope to travel a little – perhaps to Jaipur or Goa, both being my favourite spots.

Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

In between writing and proof-correcting, I have been reading the classics that I have at home – abridged or adapted versions of Greek and Roman mythology. They have similarities as well as dissimilarities with our own.

As for a book recommendation, please read my own novel Unheard Voices from Ancient Times, being brought out by Invincible Publications. In it, a young couple who cannot travel because of the lockdown entertain themselves by telling each other stories of ancient times. Do try it!

Thank you.

The book ‘Rishika’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.