S. Kavya presents on the novel Mahashweta by Sudha Murthy. The novel explores how superstitious beliefs destroy a girl named Anupama's life when she develops a small white patch on her foot that is mistakenly believed to be a symptom of leukoderma. Anupama faces immense social stigma and is isolated and mistreated by her in-laws. She eventually leaves for Mumbai where she gains independence and a new life. The novel highlights the need to eradicate superstitious beliefs and emphasizes women's empowerment and healthcare development in rural areas.

1. S. Kavya
M. Pharmacy
Department of Pharmaceutics
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher
Education and Research Institute.
MahasHweta

3. Author Introduction
 Sudha Murthy, a renowned novelist, a short story writer both in Kannada and in English who was awarded
Padma Shri for social work and education, R.K Narayan’s award for literature.
 She was a Philanthropist. Even though, she belonged to a high class society and a chair person in Infosys
Foundation, she has dedicated herself to the society to implement techno oriented facilities in teaching for
most of the Government schools in Karnataka.
 She got best teacher award from Karnataka state Government.
 She also explores the needs of development and humanistic approaches to the people through her writings.
 Sudha Murthy work discuss about the societal problems and its impacts. Her work picturize the human
belief and values.
 It has the essence of Indianess. They remind us the human values, plainness, importance of friendship,
philanthropy, kindness etc. that are forgotten in today’s society.
 Likewise, in this novel Mahashweta the author explores how the superstitious belief destroys a girl’s life.
This presentation is based on the traditional belief that changed the protagonist’s track.

5. Introduction
This novel Mahashweta explores
how the superstitious belief
destroys a girl’s life.

6. An Elegant Lady
She Carries Poems in her eyes and
asks me not to read.

7. The First Sight

8. Mr. Doctor

9. Mesmerizing Play
Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at
the same time.

10. The Grand Event
Marriage is not a noun; it is a verb . It is not something
you get . It is something you do.

11. England Diaries

12. The White Patch
One day noticed a small patch on her
foot.
She grew very desperate and
suspected that it might be
Leucoderma.

13. Immediate check

14. Caught Red handed

15. Inhumane In-Laws
The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them ,
but to be indifferent to them that’s the

16. Brutal Decision
Anupama was isolated from the house.
She was restricted to do all the
households, even the servants treated her
as slaves.
She was considered as a Bad Omen on
the whole.
A real woman doesn’t have to throw dirt
on another females to feel more secure about herself

17. Heaven Turned Hell
Anupama’s life became miserable .
Many Rumours about her spread as
the speed of light in the village.
Anupama wrote many letters to
Anand but there is no response from
Anand.

18. Chaos in the House
 Her step sister Nanda’s marriage was
broken because of Anupama’s disease .
 Anupama even thought of committing
Suicide at that point of time.
 By the time she received the letter from
her best friend Sumitra who got married
and settled in Mumbai.
 Anupama decided to step out of her shell
and to explore the world.

19. Magnificient Bombay

20. Women Empowerment
There is no tool for development more effective than
the empowerment of women.

21. Misbehaviour
I believe that people are fundamentally decent but
sometimes they do Misbehave.

22. Beautiful Palli hills

23. New Friends
The greatest healing therapy of the world
is Friendship.

24. Emotional Breakdown

25. The Healer

26. Ambitious Soul
Great Ambition is the passion of a great
character.Those endowed with it may perform very
good acts. All depends on the principle which direct

27. Mr. Doctor and his guilt's
Guilt is Cancer. Guilt will confine you, torture
you, destroy you .

28. Twists and Turns
• During his visit to Bombay he luckily
went to a play by the forceful
invitation of Dr. Prakash.
• There he found Anupama and tried as
hard he could to trace Anupama’s
Address.

29. Brave Woman
Beauty is when you can appreciate yourself. When you
love yourself ,that’s when you are most beautiful

30. Highlights
Superstitious Believes should be
eradicated
Women empowerment is the key for a
healthy Society.
Basic healthcare facilities should be
developed in Rural areas.
Loosing Humanity is a great sin it can’t
be get rid off even bathing in Ganga.

31. Highlights
Ultimately Education will stick by
“U” no matter what.
Self Discipline is the habit of
Gentleman
Self respect is the highest price
possession one can have.
Selflessness always makes your life.

32. Takeaway Message
• Don’t live with your Fears Live with your
Dreams.
• Happiness is within you and it is free.
• External beauty pleases and attracts u but
the Internal beauty brings love,
happiness, warmth and everything.
• The feelings not expressed at the right
time

33. The Myths on Leukoderma
It is non Contagious
It is different from Skin cancer.
It is not always hereditary.
Many inventions in science
eradicated the myth that the
prevention of transfer of Leukoderma
from mother to foetus is possible.

34. Breaking the Barriers

35. Breaking the Barriers

36. Impact of the Book
• The author was invited to a marriage
where the broom cancelled the marriage
after engagement when the bride
developed a sudden patch.
• After reading the book written by
SUDHAMURTHY the bride has made up
his bride that External beauty fades
ultimately eventually the heart of the
person matters.

37. Conclusion
The novel, depicts that how the disease,
superstition, affects the life of people. Even
in this modern world people believe in
superstition. Without having and showing
humanity due to superstitious belief they
are even ready to lose any relationship. The
impact of traditional belief should ensure
our humanistic approaches and the self
development.