Are you looking for some desi stories that are far from stereotypical & with a generous dose of humor? We have some for you, all in one book!
Desi parental problems getting you down? Ever felt those ‘Talks’ by your elders boring? Have you ever been judged by our society on making your choices in every stage of life? If yes, then we have a book that will resonate with your inner voice – get in touch with your (very) desi feelings and laugh it out!
Introduction
This novel was first published on 9th March 2017 by Harper Collins. The book is the third novel by Balli Kaur Jaswal and it’s based on erotic literature and domestic fiction. The book is a genuine disclosure of the laughs and struggles faced by desi immigrants living in London. The story revolves around the life of Nikki from Shepherd and the lives of desi-Punjabi women from the East-West community in South Hall.
“There is a very blurry line between imagination and reality.”
Sheena from Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows.
Main Characters
“Stories aren’t responsible for corrupting people. They give people a chance to experience new things.”
Nikki from Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows.
The first protagonist is Nikki, a modern independent 22 year old woman who’s killing all desi values like a pro. She drops out of law school, believes in unconventional relationships, smoking & living moving out of here parent’s home to uncover her passion for writing and feminism.
The second lead character is Kulwinder Kaur – a grieving mother. Kulwinder runs Sikh community classes to divert her mind and attention. The seven most important main characters are; Manjeet Kaur, Tarampal Kaur, Preetam Kaur, Arvindar Kaur, Sheena Kaur, Tanveer Kaur, Gaganjeet Kaur, and Bibi. These women are Londoners but illiterate Punjabi widows. For the world, these women might seem dull and boring but in their own little space, they are the best desi gossips girls ever. However, never judge a book by its cover! The seven Punjabi widows are more than just mere tattle tales, credence to their erotic fantasies, which keep them lively and engaged.
About The Story
“Eventually she turned around. The Professor was gone. She sat up, confused. Her Salwar was tied tightly around her waist and she was wearing her tunic. Had it all been a fantasy? It couldn’t be. Those feelings were too vivid”
Manjeet-reciting a scene from “The Viewing” from the Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows.
The novel begins with Nikki making a marriage profile for her sister Mindi to post in the temple’s post-board at South Hall. However, Nikki end’s up opting for an English creative writing class job that she finds on the same post-board for community classes. The head of the community classes is Kulwinder, who hired Nikki. Kulwinder remains mysteriously sad and fearful since the suicide of her daughter Maya, and therefore, she avoids socializing. Nikki’s students in writing classes are primarily seven Punjabi-widows who want to learn the language but find the learning process boring. Therefore, all the widows turn the writing classes into a descriptive session about their erotic stories. Nikki being the standout feminist, empowers these widows to express their untold lustful stories in the classroom but makes sure that their reputation isn’t tarnished outside of it.
Personal Favorite
“All the good men are taken and all the shit men aren’t learning how shit they are.”
Olive from Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows.
Erotic Stories For Punjabi Widows – If you think that Desi widows are boring than you are surely wrong!
The book conveys the full-throttled power & impact in stories of women living in desi families. Each character harbours a life filled with laughter and sorrows while living in the desi South Hall community. Although slow-paced at the onset, the story reels forward into engaging plots that won’t let you put down the book for a minute. All the characters are flawlessly portrayed and one could easily relate to them as a reader hailing from the South Asian (desi) community.
The best thing about this narrative is the strong message of women empowerment for every female soul out there. The book will tear away at the traditional image of Asian-immigrant women as we see them. It will leave you feeling lively and lightheaded because of its relatability towards us (desi audience).
About the Author
Balli Kaur Jaswal is an outstanding Indian-Punjabi novelist who lives in Singapore. She has so far written five noteworthy novels. Jaswal’s passion for fiction and non-fiction writings in women-centric themes has made a mark in the world of English Literature.
Sounds so good! Will definitely read it!
Very well written!
Nice article. Will definitely read this!