Climbing the Stairs-- Padma Venkatraman

I love a strong female protagonist. Have you noticed, however, that many of them are the same? Your typical independent-minded, tomboyish heroine seems to be a convenient vessel to transport modern feminist attitudes into settings where these traits are actually discouraged in women. Think about all the books you’ve read where the character’s mother is like, “oh, you are so stubborn!” or “that’s not ladylike!” or “why can’t you take up sewing and cooking instead of playing outside/ reading books/ having a mind of your own?” These books are so formulaic: the spunky daughter is generally the apple of her father’s eye and so is permitted her independent spirit, she is then placed in some difficult circumstances where her un-feminine traits are somehow an asset to her. So unfortunate.

Vidya, the main character of Climbing the Stairs, almost goes there but not quite. While she is as non-conforming as we expect, there is something real and sincere about her. Vidya’s primary objective is to continue her education, even after her family falls apart and nothing is certain for the future. I like this girl.

Climbing the Stairs is set in India in the 1940s, where Vidya lives a relatively comfortable life until her family can no longer escape the colonial regime and approaching war. A tragedy forces Vidya and her family to move into her grandfather’s traditional household, ruled over by her oppressive aunt and uncle. Separated from her loving brother and without support from her cruelly-treated mother, Vidya’s only solace comes from her grandfather’s library and a friend she meets there. Her uncertain future mirrors the movement for independence in India, with political and spiritual threads woven throughout the story.

This book is beautiful, but also felt very genuine. In the author’s notes, Padma Venkatraman reveals that the characters and some of the events in the book were inspired by people in her family. Vidya, in particular, is inspired by Venkatraman’s mother, a lawyer and legal scholar who was encouraged by her father to pursue her love of learning. That pretty much sealed the deal for me-- there’s a heroine we can truly admire.

Venkatraman has an excellent website for this book for those who are interested in reading more about Indian history, religion, and society—visit it here.