Sandhya Mariewhose novel, Maria, Just Maria (translated from Malayalam to English by Jayasree Kalathil), is on the longlist JCB Prize for LiteratureShe discusses the challenges of getting fit, celebrating everything that’s ‘not normal’, and why she believes time isn’t something that should be ‘used up’.
Excerpts from the interview:
After reading Maria, Just Maria, it was classified as a satire, Magical Realism Or anything else is not easy. How would you describe your novel?
- Categorizing Maria is not easy even for me. However, I would say that Maria… is basically about the ‘normal’ vs ‘abnormal’ binary that has defined our society for centuries. If a person deviates even slightly from the definition of ‘normal’ set by society, he or she runs the risk of being tagged and branded as ‘abnormal’. And sometimes, a person’s entire life can become a struggle to fit in! Our society is very conservative and right from birth, one is taught to adapt and fit in. You are not even given a chance to understand your true personality. Maria… subtly satirises these social systems, exploring the politics of our family, social and religious structures.
Maria, where did the desire to write come from, where did the inspiration to tell us the story come from?
- Maria…was never meant to be a literary work. I started it as a series of notes, maybe to understand my own mind, to know how ‘mad’ I was or how ‘mad’ I would become…It started a long time ago and for a few years, I didn’t write anything. Later, when I read them, I realised that they naturally took a literary form. I think, if you have the literary thing inside you, and you write constantly, even if it’s just notes, your work will, unconsciously, develop a literary form on its own. From then on, I started writing it as a novel. But still, it took years, because I’m a very lazy writer. I would prefer to call myself a storyteller.
Can you please share some insight into the writing process?
- I loved writing Maria…! With so many ‘unusual’ characters around you, why wouldn’t you! It was a celebration of everything ‘unusual’! I loved that creative madness! There were times when I ran to my partner laughing, ‘Hey I wrote this!’ Maria… came very naturally to me. It was like a crazy dance with Chandi Patti, Mathiri Valiyammachi, Geevarghese, Geevarghese Sahada, Jesus, Anna Valiyammma, Kuncheriya…
How did your personal experiences influence the themes and characters in your novel?
- This topic is very personal to me. I sometimes joke that if you are going to be a rebel, be one after a certain age! I know you don’t decide such things, it just happens. If you are a free-thinking child, especially a girl from a conservative family, your childhood is ruined! Although I am not Maria, I am a slightly more socially adapted version of her. Regarding the characters, I have not encountered anyone like them in real life, nor have I heard of such individuals.
Humor pervades Maria…even amid the poignant themes of loss and grief. Readers find themselves laughing one moment and feeling deep sadness the next. Do you think humor can make our existence more bearable? Is humor an important element in your personal life as well?
- Many people have told me that they laughed and cried at the same time while reading Maria… Yes, humor makes everything beautiful! I was once telling a friend about a very painful event from my past. She laughed throughout the story and when I finished, she said in between her laughter, “That’s a really good story, although it’s made up!” If you have a sense of humor, negative feelings won’t stay with you for long. You can laugh at them and move on.
While reading the novel, I was reminded of the recurring motif of the ‘ship of fools’ in medieval art and literature. This imagery often depicts a group of social outcasts exiled from society. Foucault considered this a reflection of how society historically treated people considered ‘unreasonable’ or ‘insane’. Can you comment on this connection?
- Yes, I can easily imagine myself on that ship! There are many creative people around us who are labelled as ‘crazy’ just because they don’t follow the rules.
social norms Beautiful soul people! I think the whole society must be one big ‘ship of fools’. So many different people, living so many different lives! Even as a child, I questioned why everyone follows the same life path: education, job, marriage, children, regular promotions. It seems as if time is a resource that must be used efficiently. Maria is someone who rejects this notion. She thinks, “Who discovered that time needs to be used?”
Your work presents a liberating perspective, Encouraging self-expression and individuality rather than conforming to social norms. It provides a sense of relief, especially for those who feel different or unconventional…
- Thank you very much! Yes, many people have told me that Maria has brought them great relief! For those who doubted themselves or their sanity. In this context, I am grateful – I don’t know to whom – as a non-believer, that I could write to Maria…
In Maria…, reality is heightened in dramatic and emotional power by the addition of the magical. It becomes more real. Do you believe in magic?
- Yes, I believe in magic! It gives you an alternate reality. But sadly, I don’t see much of that magic around me today.
Can you name some of your early influences?
- I used to read more English or translated literature than Malayalam. I loved Catcher in the Rye, but on rereading it recently I found it less interesting. Then there was my Jorge Amado phase! Oh, how I loved Bahia-Canvas! Brothels and churches coexisting… Even today, Brazil is the country I want to visit the most.
What have you read recently?
- I don’t read much fiction these days. I mostly focus on political or historical works. At the moment I’m rereading Jahangirnama, which is a fascinating and entertaining book.
When can we expect your next work?
- Not in the near future! Did I not mention that I am a very lazy writer?
Do you think Jayashree Kalathil’s Maria… translation has captured the essence of the original Malayalam text?
- Jayashree’s translation is brilliant! It’s incredibly close to the Malayalam version, yet it can be read as a stand-alone novel. It’s truly beautiful! She was so immersed in Maria that at one point, I told her that she knows Maria better than I do. We both share the same political views and perspectives on normality and abnormality, so she connected with Maria instantly.
If I may, please tell me what are your views about society, religion, politics and life as a whole?
- You always wish for such a ‘just’ world! This dream world where everyone is equal, everyone is happy, everyone is satisfied, where the destruction of the state actually happens. Recently, we saw the Ambani wedding commotion! We saw Neeta Ambani wearing a necklace worth Rs 500 crores! And yet people believe in God! If there is a God, he is doing a pathetic job!
