A September 2014 Conversation: The Tale of Swarupa Chavan, A Marathi Dreamer from Amchi Mumbai
In a city that hums with a rhythm of its own, where dreams rise and fall like the tides along Marine Drive, we meet Swarupa Chavan—a writer by night and DGM by day. She is a Marathi girl through and through, her heart firmly tethered to Mumbai. Her words, though, have wandered beyond her city’s borders, making their way into novels and anthologies, casting a net of humor, humanity, and reflection across readers.
This is no ordinary exchange of questions and answers. It’s a journey—a journey that started five years ago when Swarupa picked up the pen, threading tales into the world. Two novels emerged from that quest: To Err is Human and A Journey to Remember. Somewhere along the way, a short story called The Unsaid Words found a home in the anthology Fusion.
Her Voice Speaks
The name she answers to, both on paper and in person, is simply “Swarupa.” No veil of a pseudonym cloaks her identity. Her education, woven through places of learning like Mary Immaculate Girls High School and Jai Hind College, shaped her early path. Physics, computer technology, and packaging have been her companions in academia. “I wanted to be a fighter pilot once,” she recalls, her laughter resonant, “or maybe an astronomer. At some point, computer engineering crossed my mind. But here I am, a Packaging Specialist.”
On the Matter of Language and Inspiration
With a brushstroke of fluency, she dances between English, Hindi, and Marathi. And when asked what moves her, her answer is as direct as it is profound. Her mother. “My mother’s hardships shaped me,” she says, the depth of her words carrying years of quiet resilience and gratitude.
Her spirit is gentle, yet her heart feels deeply. She admits, “Nothing hurts more than unreciprocated kindness, than promises broken for selfish reasons.” There is steel in her voice—a fierceness only softened by her vulnerability.
On Fiction, Laughter, and the Heart
Swarupa gravitates to humor in her writing, seeing it as the highest form of connection. “If you can make someone smile, you have succeeded. Humor has a magic to it.” Yet she doesn’t shy away from the emotional, the tender. In her storytelling, she lets her own heartbeats seep through, feeling each pulse of joy, sorrow, or surprise that her characters experience. “The pain, the joy—they’re all real,” she says, describing her process of empathy that becomes a bridge between fiction and reality.
To Err is Human tells the tale of Malini, a magnetic mess of dreams and humor, stumbling through a world of odd bosses and quirky characters. It’s a journey of love, ambition, and discovery. “She’s flawed, as we all are, and that’s what makes her human,” Swarupa explains. Malini’s struggles mirror the universal quest for understanding and forgiveness.
A Journey to Remember takes us to the cool breezes of Shimla. Here, a lighthearted romance unfolds, a collision of perspectives, where love and friendship blur into a single unforgettable ride. Ananya and Kunal, two souls with vastly different views, find themselves entangled in the tender absurdity of connection.
Her short story, The Unsaid Words, introduces readers to Dr. Raksha, a character drenched in emotion and complexity. “It’s a different voice, a shift from humor to the intensely personal,” Swarupa says, her pride in the work evident.
What Lies Ahead and Behind
She is already deep into her next novel. Each project begins with meticulous research, a carefully laid foundation on which the story can build. And while she ventures into new themes and ideas, she keeps her eyes trained on her readers, hoping to offer them something meaningful and new.
But what fuels her words? For Swarupa, the essence of writing is rooted in imagination. “Imagination breathes life into characters,” she muses. “Without it, a story is nothing but dry ink on paper.”
Of Dreams and Wanderlust
In a perfect world, she would be traveling endlessly, exploring the mountains of Shimla or the landscapes of Europe. “Switzerland calls to me,” she says wistfully. “It’s like something out of a dream.” For now, her feet may be in Mumbai, but her imagination roams far beyond.
Her spirit resonates with the colors of her beloved India—the vibrancy of yellow, her favorite hue. As a Leo, she embodies a quiet fierceness, a warmth that draws others in. Her evenings are for unwinding, a time when she connects deeply with herself, whether with a book in hand or simply the solace of a quiet moment.
When asked what India means to her, her answer is layered with complexity. It’s a pride mixed with sorrow, a love for her culture shadowed by societal struggles. “India is rich in diversity, but scarred by its present realities,” she admits.
Between the Lines: Quick Glimpses into Swarupa
Moonlight over sunlight. A silent smile over loud laughter. The pull of the sea over the draw of the mountains. A long drive, quiet conversations, water, air—each answer a small window into her soul.
Swarupa Chavan is a dreamer and a realist, a woman whose words are her world, whose imagination is boundless. This September 2014 interview is not merely a snapshot of an author—it is a conversation with a storyteller, a journey of self-discovery, a reminder that each of us, in our flawed humanity, is a story waiting to be told.
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