Self-Centred North American Women

Secret Daughter: A Novel

by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Sarla: Sometimes...one's actions must precede the emotions one hopes to feel.

 

In a book filled with strong, intelligent, caring and resourceful women, the educated white woman stands out as the whiny, selfish and self-centred bitch.  Somer marries a man and adopts a child, both from India, yet expresses no interest in their Indian culture and heritage.  Or really, no interest in anything outside her own head.  She's a pediatric doctor, yet is incapable of exhibiting compassion to herself or to her own family members.  Somer is a woman in serious need of a reality check!

In contrast, Kavita is a poor wife in an Indian village, able to stand up to her husband when necessary and manage relationships with both their extended families.  Sarla is a Bombay woman with compassion and wisdom as well as wealth.  And Asha is a smart, feisty and ambitious girl seeking to understand the heritage that her mother Somer has cut off from her.

If Gowda is making a general commentary on American women, it's an unflattering commentary indeed.  Not unlike Elizabeth in Eat, Pray, Love, Somer's self-centred, self-aggrandizing, "woe is me" attitude epitomizes much of what is wrong with North American women today.

Me, I'll take Sarla's patience and wisdom over Somer's whining any day.