‘Nobody Lights a Candle’ illuminates the dark realities of our unequal society

Anjali Deshpande’s novel Nobody Lights a Candle is a gut-wrenching exploration of the deeply entrenched misogyny and casteism in Indian society. Using spare prose and visceral imagery, it exposes the macabre forms assumed by these social ills. Even as women break barriers to find a footing in a hostile patriarchal terrain, there are many on the margins who are targeted for their nonconformity. Eyes dripping with derision follow these women everywhere, but they are never truly seen.

The illusion of choice

This is the author's translation of her Hindi novel Hatya. It is centred on the brutal murder of Suryabala, a lower-caste woman who rejects the trappings of tradition. She continues to wear bright clothes even after her husband dies, resisting the sartorial restrictions imposed on widows. Seeking to escape the confines of village life, she becomes a sex toy for lascivious men. Ultimately, she meets a ghastly end. No one sheds a tear except for her mother, who, too, cannot rise above social prejudices. Suryabala is viewed as a curse to her family. Villagers speak disparagingly of her, treating her murder as an unnecessary hassle. Even in death, she is reviled for the choices she made. As you delve deep into the narrative, you can’t help but wonder...

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