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Brand new De
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Shobhaa De is firmly on the side of young India
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Photo: Murali Kumar k.
Changing mores Shobhaa is closer to her children than her mum was to her
Shobhaa De scintillates at 59 in a net sari, festooned with pink flowers and green leaves.“I can only look good if I feel good about life. I keep doing things that keep me energised in life.”
The mother of six grown-up children, says: “All my children are of the marriageable age, but are unmarried! They know for themselves when the time is right. I am the last person to impose my point of view on them.”
Individualistic
She feels that today’s generation is more individualistic in their mindsets when it comes to taking the plunge.
“They are not willing to put up with the slightest issue, and will not even make the smallest compromise. The divorce rate in India is higher than ever before. ‘Kutumbh’ is a term that was used in our once-stable society that embraced the family, community and then nation. There was greater emotional involvement earlier and now, it’s breaking down.”
But, she says she’s much closer to her children. “As a mother, I feel that I’ve been more communicative with my children. I think it is important that the generation gap is bridged as I am more receptive and able to deal with problems of adolescence — something which my mother and I did not share.”
The new Indian woman
About the “new Indian woman”, Shobhaa points out: “Yes, I agree it is an urban phenomenon. But there is something called the trickle-down effect. The less-privileged women who have access to television seek inspiration from the women they see on TV. I have travelled far and wide and I find that the main change is within the middle-class. Women are now more educated – they hold university degrees and jobs.”
Shobhaa has just finished reading Paul Theroux’s “The Elephant Suite” and enjoyed watching the “hackneyed ‘Jab We Met’”.
Non-fiction project
The writer, model, columnist and fashion diva has now got her hands busy in a non-fiction project which will be released in February 2008, which is “very ambitious” and “about India”. “Only my publisher knows what it’s about, not even my children or husband!” Shobhaa dismissively says she has no time for yoga or exercise, that she doesn’t follow brands as she believes that “an individual should be bigger than the brand.”
“My idea of social satisfaction is being with young India. They show great dynamism and are far more aware and have more spunk. The only thing that is stopping us from being a super-power is our corrupt politicians. This was a topic for discussion that I attended recently held by the International Herald Tribune, where Ramachandra Guha spoke very well.”
She asserts for the last time, “I am sure they will realise, if not already, that their future lies in India.”
AYESHA MATTHAN
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