Shabia Ravi Walia sure doesn’t deny that her greatest accolade is, Mamma Mania, the book about her journey into motherhood where she had poured her heart with love on the birth of daughter Sia and all that it took along the way, to make this miracle happen.
Mamma Mania, a refreshing narrative of a first time mother is the wholesome guide to remind a reader of unbound joys that makes one look past the Herculean task of creating another being.
Shabia has been a media professional for the past 15 years, with experience in writing, direction and production of television shows.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
How do you define motherhood? There are schools for everything but not motherhood.
It is the biggest blessing for a woman. Nothing can beat the grandeur of motherhood for its only God and a mother who can create new beings.
Do you agree motherhood is the greatest transformation of all? For a women, yes. The little being growing inside you is the closest and dearest to you and that naturally draws you to empathise with a fellow human being. When I was pregnant, the 26/11 terrorist attack happened in Mumbai and that got me questioning, “Do I want my child to be born in this world of violence and hatred?” Mamma Mania is an interesting title. It must mean more than the toil of giving birth and taking care of a new born.
Mamma Mania is the madness of motherhood, not to negate the joy that surpasses all. Beginning from the want of a baby, when every sight and sense of beautiful babies leaves your heart aching all over again for one of your own, followed by the whirlwind madness once the baby is conceived, to the daunting task when the baby comes.
This book is an account of the birth of my daughter and I want to continue with a series on child upbringing, with its share of toddler tantrums and decision making as a mother.
Can you share us an instance from the book? During the second trimester of pregnancy, my gynaec asked me to go for a full anatomy scan. It is a sonography where they look out for any physical or other abnormalities in the baby.
After an examination, the doctor told us that our baby had calcium deposits on her brain and heart and advised amniocentesis, a test which probes for genetic defects in the baby. Defects that can cause Down Syndrome. I felt my world coming crashing down. I was devastated.
I started talking to my baby and consoled myself with positive spirit. Thank god it turned out to be a false alarm for the calcium deposits had dissolved after few weeks.
That one instance truly reinstated my faith in positive thinking.
You had been a teacher prior to your venture into the media field. Do you think that had in a way manoeuvred you into writing a book on motherhood? I think that might have influenced me subconsciously.
I have always liked kids and enjoyed interacting with them. Even when I was just four-years-old, I used to tell my mother that I don’t want to marry but I want a baby and that would leave her in a shock.
What do you think are the hurdles pregnant women face in today’s environment? Living in a metro city with the pollution and ill equipped public services, the hectic and stressful lifestyle takes toll on would-be-mothers.
Bad roads, potholes, crowd and traffic are looming concerns when travelling outside.
Living in a nuclear family leaves one bereft of the convenience of your mother or in-laws to help take care of the baby. The ambience of clean and peaceful parks can be heavenly for pregnant women.
A message to fellow women and readers? There were men who said that after reading the book, they understood how much a mother goes through to give birth to a child and they hugged their mothers. I’d like to say, celebrate motherhood.
It is like climbing Mount Everest – that the roller coaster ride has its share of madness – but by taking things in one’s own stride through instinct and positive thinking, a bundle of joy awaits you at the top.
Mamma Mania is an experience based book.
What do you intend to write about in future? Are there possibilities that you will write fictional books as well? I’m planning to write a fictional book. I like to read fictions, especially love and romance and I also read positive thinking books. The Secret is one of my favourite.
I like the works of Sydney Sheldon, N Ryan’s Fountain Head. My daughter loves the mythological stories of Ramayana and Krishna and I read her those stories.