Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part A (2022)

Novels of Shobha De are an important contribution to contemporary Indian literature. She is known for writing about contemporary Indian society and its various taboos. Her novels often explore themes of love, sex, and sexuality in a frank and explicit manner, challenging traditional Indian values and norms. This has garnered both praise and criticism from readers and critics alike. The works have been criticised by some for their explicit sexual content and portrayal of women as sexual objects. The praise has been for the frank and honest depiction of the lives of the urban elite in India and the exploration of the taboo topics such as sex, infidelity, and power dynamics. The sexual mania of the commercialised world has been explored explicitly. Her characters are often depicted as being obsessed with sex, power, and money, and their pursuit of these desires often leads to destructive consequences. Conservatives in India may criticise her for her open discussion on sexual matters, but her fiction has got tremendous response from all over the world including several European countries. She is best known for her depiction of socialites and sex in her works of fiction, for which she has been referred to as the "Jackie Collins of India."