Shama Futehally

Shama Futehally was born in Bombay in 1952. She studied English at the universities of Bombay and Leeds. She taught English and Cultural History for eight years in Bombay and Ahmedabad. She moved to Delhi and spent most of the last few decades there. She was married to an IAS officer, and had two children. She had two anthologies of short stories, and her first novel, Tara Lane, won great critical acclaim. She had also written a collection of children's stories with Githa Hariharan, titled Sorry, Best Friend, and translated Urdu ghazals.

Shama Futehally died on 3 Dec 2004. She had been battling cancer for several years, and was just 52.

In Memoriam

Memories of a Friend. Shashi Deshpande writes about Shama Futehally and their friendship, in the Hindu.

In Memoriam: Shama Futehally. Anu Kumar in the Economic and Political Weekly. 18 Dec 2004.

A Writer Well Loved. Susan Viswanathan in the Hindu.

Living with Grace. Githa Hariharan in the Indian Express.

Translations of Mirabai by Futehally and others.

Portrait of a childhood Review of Futehally's chapter in 'In Other Words'. Reviewed by Chandra Holm.

Writing available online

Shared suggestions. About 'Busybee'. Article in Indian Express, 1 May 2001.

The world's most complex job. Indian Express, 11 Sep 2000.

PUtting the subjective on hold. Indian Express, 30 April 2000.

Kasauli -- a little high. In Outlook Traveller.

Bibliography



Slivers of a Mirror
Mapin Books, Bangalore. Fall 2004.

This translation attempts to capture the best qualities of the ghazal in a contemporary voice. Many of the enduring names of the ghazal are to be found here, from the early mystic Siraj Aurangabadi, whose language still has a touch of the Deccan, through the great Ghalib to modern poets like Faiz and Sahir Ludhianvi. Urdu and Devanagiri renderings of the poems will ensure that the originals are also accessible to many readers.

Reaching Bombay Central
Penguin India, 2002

Sawnet Review by CJ Gillen

A journey within and without. Review in Tribune India.

"I mourn for religious tolerance". Interview with Shama Futehally in Literate World.

Train to Bombay Central. Interview in Femina.

Tara Lane
Ravi Dayal, Delhi, 1993.

Sawnet Review by Susan Chacko

In the dark of the heart


Sorry, Best Friend


A collection of children's stories written with Githa Hariharan.

South Asian Women authors
Sawnet Bookshelf
Sawnet