Samaksha

Although the principle that “one should have the right to control one’s own life” is just and noble as a philosophy of life, instances of its actual realization are rare. Every moment of a person’s life is shaped by the presence and circumstances of others. The successes and failures in someone’s life, and the fulfilment or frustration of their desires, do not depend solely on their individual merits, shortcomings, or abilities. The circumstances created by the presence of others also play a significant role.

Family and society provide these circumstances. For some people, they serve as ladders that help them rise in life; for others, they become chains that hold them back.

Samaksha, a short story collection by Sumedh Wadawala, brings together the extraordinary stories of strong-willed women, men, and children for whom these circumstances have become chains. Crafted through Wadawala’s distinctive and evocative use of language, the collection offers a profound and thought-provoking portrayal of diverse worlds, some familiar and others unfamiliar. The richness and depth with which these stories reveal the realities of human life are truly astonishing.