Three women leading complicated lives find their paths intertwined in Anuradha Marwah’s Aunties of Vasant Kunj. Shailaja, a Professor at Delhi University, Mrs. Nilima Gandhi, a resilient homemaker and Dinitia, a passionate social worker, live in Vasant Kunj. Despite having contrasting value systems and principles, these characters share empathy for each other and that is where the success of the novel lies. The depiction of the private worlds of these women goes hand-in-hand with how society also views women in their forties. The title word ‘Aunties’ feels like an intentional choice of the author as she draws us to a pivotal fact that all women (or aunties) do not lead homogenous lives. This narrative is an example as it perfectly blends the personal points of view of the characters and of the collective around them.
March 2025, volume 49, No 3