“Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.”- Robert A. Heinlein. Shilpi Somaya Gowda’s Secret Daughter does an extraordinary job of showing the reader that blood relation is not the only element that binds a family. Both Kavita and Somer experience changes throughout the novel due to their different experiences of maternity. Somer being unable to conceive drags her along an emotional journey in which she is ashamed and worried. Kavita’s experiences with childbirth are much more intense than Somer’s with her first and second born being taken away from her. The concept of childbirth, pregnancy, and mothering is found to be an individual process. With each protagonist having their different experience with pregnancy, there are
…show more content…
Somer’s daughter, Asha, has gone down the path of prosperity going to Brown’s University and she works’ at the Daily Herald. Kavita’s son, Vijay has not gone down the path that his father and mother wanted, but instead the very opposite, becoming a criminal and a drug deader. Kavita and her husband Jasu come home to their home scattered as if someone had tried to find a needle in a haystack. The police are called and Jasu is questioned by the police ““Mr. Merchant, I am going to ask you again, and this time you will tell me the truth. Where does Vijay keep his supply?” … Vijay has a messenger business. He is a good boy, very honest (165).” The police officer questions Jasu’s father about where Vijay keeps his drug supply indicating that they know his son is in fact is a drug dealer. Jasu on the other hand has no idea what the police officer is talking about and thinks his son is an honest boy who owns a messenger business. Instead of Vijay living an honest life he choses the way of evil and despair. Somer’sp daughter, Asha goes to Browns University and works at the Daily Bugle and goes in the complete opposite way in which Vijay took his life. Somer and her husband Krishan go to Asha’s university where they cross paths with the faculty advisor Jeremy Cooper. Jeremy proceeds to tell Asha’s parents about her amazing feats. “As I was saying, you should be very proud of your daughter. Asha is one of the finest young …show more content…
Instead, motherhood is an individual experience with every female having a different experience from everyone else. Kavita’s experience with her child involves her giving birth, and conceiving her child Vijay. On the other hand, Somer cannot give birth to her own child, but that does not stop her from trying and finally adopts a child, Asha. Kavita and Jasu are having their third child together and both are praying for a boy so he can help Jasu in the fields. Kavita finds out she is giving birth to a baby boy as the novel quotes; “After several minutes, the technician says, “Congratulations, a healthy boy… Kavita’s only reaction is relief (49).” Kavita and her husband, Jasu travel to an ultrasound clinic in which her husband payed 200 rupees to have an ultrasound to discover whether or not Kavita is having a male or female child. Kavita is relieved when she finds out that she does not have to lose another baby. Somer is unable to give birth and adopts Asha from an Indian adoption agency. This is shown in the quote, “The assistant nods and leaves the office. When the assistant returns to the office holding the baby, everyone in the room stands at once… “She, nothing to worry,” the assistant says. “She’s already attached to you (78).”” Everyone is the agency room is so eager to see Asha that when the assistant leaves the room to grab her they all rise to their
Somer’s daughter, Asha, has gone down the path of prosperity going to Brown’s University and she works’ at the Daily Herald. Kavita’s son, Vijay has not gone down the path that his father and mother wanted, but instead the very opposite, becoming a criminal and a drug deader. Kavita and her husband Jasu come home to their home scattered as if someone had tried to find a needle in a haystack. The police are called and Jasu is questioned by the police ““Mr. Merchant, I am going to ask you again, and this time you will tell me the truth. Where does Vijay keep his supply?” … Vijay has a messenger business. He is a good boy, very honest (165).” The police officer questions Jasu’s father about where Vijay keeps his drug supply indicating that they know his son is in fact is a drug dealer. Jasu on the other hand has no idea what the police officer is talking about and thinks his son is an honest boy who owns a messenger business. Instead of Vijay living an honest life he choses the way of evil and despair. Somer’sp daughter, Asha goes to Browns University and works at the Daily Bugle and goes in the complete opposite way in which Vijay took his life. Somer and her husband Krishan go to Asha’s university where they cross paths with the faculty advisor Jeremy Cooper. Jeremy proceeds to tell Asha’s parents about her amazing feats. “As I was saying, you should be very proud of your daughter. Asha is one of the finest young …show more content…
Instead, motherhood is an individual experience with every female having a different experience from everyone else. Kavita’s experience with her child involves her giving birth, and conceiving her child Vijay. On the other hand, Somer cannot give birth to her own child, but that does not stop her from trying and finally adopts a child, Asha. Kavita and Jasu are having their third child together and both are praying for a boy so he can help Jasu in the fields. Kavita finds out she is giving birth to a baby boy as the novel quotes; “After several minutes, the technician says, “Congratulations, a healthy boy… Kavita’s only reaction is relief (49).” Kavita and her husband, Jasu travel to an ultrasound clinic in which her husband payed 200 rupees to have an ultrasound to discover whether or not Kavita is having a male or female child. Kavita is relieved when she finds out that she does not have to lose another baby. Somer is unable to give birth and adopts Asha from an Indian adoption agency. This is shown in the quote, “The assistant nods and leaves the office. When the assistant returns to the office holding the baby, everyone in the room stands at once… “She, nothing to worry,” the assistant says. “She’s already attached to you (78).”” Everyone is the agency room is so eager to see Asha that when the assistant leaves the room to grab her they all rise to their