Fathi Salim,author from Sharjah, has launched debut novel,Dechoma and the Women of Mahé. It dives into lives of women in matrilineal Muslim community in Mahé, Puducherry . Originally in Malayalam in 2022,now translated to English by J Devika.
Salim's story draws from childhood memories of Mahé women. They faced patriarchal limits but had strong camaraderie . She calls their ties deeply intimate,sharing struggles, supporting each other . “They had own world inside,happy in it,” Salim reflects, showing unique bonds.
Novel's structure mirrors the fragmented nature of their experiences. Each chapter from a different woman's view. Salim says women’s stories rarely linear. “We don’t inherit one continuous epic. We inherit whispers, warnings,recipes, secrets—chapter by chapter,woman by woman,”she states. Fragmentation allows honest depiction.
Central is Umaiba, a child seeing gender roles' complexities without adult biases. Salim finds writing through child's eyes refreshing,letting readers see societal absurdities sans adult cynicism. “She doesn’t see ‘the patriarchy’ as an abstract, looming monster; she just tries to understand,” Salim notes.
Novel also looks at men in these women’s lives. Not villains, but shaped by environment. Salim argues emotional toll on men perpetuating violence is real. “The tragedy isn’t just what happens to the women; it’s also the emotional death of the men who feel compelled to inflict it,” she explains, pointing to systemic oppression.
Writing full-length novel challenged Salim,who wrote short stories before. She calls it test of stamina,emotional discipline, needing commitment to continuity,character development. “You will live with the same characters and problems for months, if not years,” she says, noting difficulty keeping narrative momentum.
Despite doubts about book’s appeal beyond home state, Malayalam version,Dechomayum Mahile Pennungalum, was hit. Sold over 10,000 copies, won K P Kesava Menon Award in 2024. Encouraged by friend Devika,Salim agreed to translation, believing it captures original's emotional depth.
Devika's translation keeps local flavor,sometimes leaving terms untranslated, letting readers dive into characters' world. Salim values this, preserving narrative's authenticity. “The reader might not know the exact dictionary definition of a local phrase instantly,but through the rhythm of the scene,they feel it,” she asserts.
As Salim marks translated work's release,she's on her second novel,Bosthi Jeevan, exploring marginalized lives in Bengal. Still drawing from Mahé,planning another story on women’s complex experiences there. “I’m tracing the intimate, pathetic journey of a woman navigating the currents of failure in her marriage,” she reveals. More to come…
