Shobhaa De launches Sethji at Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest 2012

One of India’s best-known columnists and novelists, Shobhaa Dé has been a regular at the Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest since its inception, but today was a special moment for her and the audience as she launched her latest novel, Sethji. The book was released by Festival Director Anil Dharker.

Sethji marks Dé’s return to fiction following the success of her last autobiographical work in 2010, Shobhaa at Sixty. The multiple award-winning author was at her spirited best during the launch of what she described as her most provocative work till date.

At a time when politicians stock as at its lowest, the theme of Sethji taps just the right nerve by sketching the image of a wily, old politician in the thick of ruthless politics. The book holds many penetrating insights into the complex power circles of contemporary politics in India. 

Dé, now a publisher in her own right, presents her latest book once again under the aegis of publisher Penguin India.

“I wanted Sethji to go where no political novel has gone before and keep the reader involved within the power structures we don’t often fathom”, said De to the enthralled audience who attended the launch hosted at the NCPA’s Experimental Theatre  

“Sethji promises to be a very different kind of novel from her past work”, said Anil Dharker, Festival Director “Tata Literature Live! is proud to provide Shobhaa with a platform to release her book and I am positive that a lot of readers will join me in buying a copy and reading it as soon as possible!”

Dé remains an insider to Mumbai and India’s most prolific social and political circles and her latest literary salvo is poised to add to the luster of Tata Literature Live, Mumbai Litfest 2012.