Who hasn’t read a depressing tale and hoped there was a happier consequence? Veena S Rao took it one step further by resurrecting Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, shaking its defeated characters and salvaging their ill-starred lives, albeit with a happier ending. The Bengaluru-based retired IAS officer talks to us about her journey — writing bureaucratic jargon to stepping into a territory that she’s no longer a stranger to, fiction.
Growing up, her house was a book haven, thanks to her older brothers and sister. She always dreamed that one day, she too would write a book like the ones she saw. It was earlier this year that those dreams saw the day of light with a novel that Veena believes has been sleeping for a long time. “I think we start writing when we are confident that what we write will have quality and something special to spark interest among readers,” says Veena, reminding us that there’s no age like now to start writing. “In my profession too, everyone has to be some sort of a writer, whether it is writing some bureaucratic jargon and gibberish, or a more sophisticated cabinet note, policy document, draft speeches for the bosses or papers for conferences. And, mind you, one is severely judged by the quality of one’s writing!” she tells us.
Veena S Rao’s book cover
It was after reading Mrs de Winter by Susan Hill, a sequel to Rebecca that saw her pen down Charlotte’s End at 60. “It was a depressing story with a sad ending. A writer can make a happy ending of any human struggle or romance. So, why not?” she says. The novel is a tale of steadfast love between a 21-year-old Mrs de Villiers and her much older husband Raymond — something that beautifully explores their journey of inner conflicts and personal tragedy. “I hope that readers will find an enjoyable story of a young woman fighting hard to overcome disaster and finally succeeding. They might also enjoy a revisit of the Second World War genre of fiction that is not much written about these days,” she adds.
Compliments have been pouring in for Veena and being called desi Daphne du Maurier by a friend was one of them, “I told her, ‘Why not? Isn’t that what Make in India is all about!’ and we had a good laugh.”
Having been closely associated with issues such as malnutrition, child rights and human trafficking in the capacity of an IAS officer, Veena confesses that this book of fiction was fun to write. “It was a nice diversion from official obligations, a flight of fancy if you will,” she says, adding that she is working on two half done novels – one political and another historical. Otherwise, the woman who served also served as secretary to the Government of India, Ministry for the Development of the North East Region, is an expert on development issues, working closely with the Government of Karnataka and the World Bank. For her, it’s all about doing as much good to as many people through whatever opportunities you have – Just like how she made Mrs de Villiers’ life a happy one.
