An 145;official146; insight

The agony, ecstasy, labour, loneliness, uncertainty...of being a writer is something Suchita Malik has lived. And as her debut novel Indian Memsahib...

Suchita Malik8217;s debut novel, Indian Memsahib, weaves fact 038; fiction to tell the untold story of a bureaucrat8217;s wife

The agony, ecstasy, labour, loneliness, uncertainty8230;of being a writer is something Suchita Malik has lived. And as her debut novel Indian Memsahib, the untold story of a bureaucrat8217;s wife makes waves, Suchita sums up the entire experience aptly, 8220;it8217;s like bringing into being a baby, as tough and as satisfying.8217;8217; A student of literature and now teaching American Literature at the Government College for Boys, writing and reading, smiles the lovely author, has come naturally to her and she8217;d been toying with the idea for a long time, ever since she read English August. 8220;That was from a bureaucrat8217;s point of view, but there is another side to it all, the wives8217; perspective, for behind the glamour is the grind and my journey of more than 25 years as a civil servant8217;s better-half is what Indian Memsahib is all about,8217;8217; for Malik, who began her teaching career from MD University, Rohtak and has been regularly writing newspaper columns, penning the book was a walk down memory lane. Recalling the various stints of her husband, his transfers, associated problems, situations, the good and bad times and jotting it all down was how Suchita began it all. What people see, rues Malik, is only a hunky-dory situation, though many times there are situations which call for many adjustments, 8220;as a wife, you have to play second fiddle, submerge your identity, be reticent, always have a smile and fight a lone battle at different stages of life, flagging her own banter of individualism. She also tries her level best to come up to the expectations of everyone at every stage of life relegating her own self, career and individualism.8217;8217;

The ground reality is different from what is seen by outsiders and Malik did a lot of introspection as she went through the process of writing and looked back closely at her own life, taking care of home, family, career and at times, also feeling personal gaps and emptiness. It8217;s been a long journey, nods Malik. As to whether the book is autobiographical, Suchita recalls how in one of her meetings with Khushwant Singh, he said that the first work of fiction is usually autobiographical and encouraged her to write a novel with that element in mind. 8220;As a writer you have to be objective and even the imagination has to be factual, and so this novel is not only about my experiences, but also of the other wives, their emotions, identities,8217;8217; Suchita recalls how apart from her daughter no one else had a clue about Indian Memsahib. And she8217;s absolutely ecstatic about the reviews and sales of the book and is all set for another novel and some non-fictional work too. 8220;Teaching is like catharsis, challenging, satisfying and education is a subject that will occupy my writing now,8217;8217; Suchita8217;s words come easy.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More