Touching upon the issues of infertility and the social stigma attached to it, author Mala Mahesh has written a new novel titled 'Padma'. A work of fiction, 'Padma' was launched by popular Bollywood musician Shankar Mahadevan at an event in Mumbai on June 1, 2022.
For generations, a woman's worth is equated to her ability to bear children but people rarely talk about the complications or difficulties a woman undergoes for this. 'Padma' offers a glimpse of how womanhood is perceived in India. The story follows two women-- Padma and Naina-- who are separated by time but struggle with the same issues of infertility and difficult pregnancies. While Padma lived in Kerala during the 1900s, Naina is a successful professional living in present-day Mumbai. Their stories span a period of 100 years.
