You have been a prolific writer. You have written 23 books that include collections of poetry and prose in Hindi, Punjabi and English. How do you motivate yourself as a writer?
Life is magnificent. Life is full of gains and losses, happiness and turmoil, love and romance, parenthood, friendship and enmity. All these have left an indelible mark on my inner self - which motivates me to write.

Your life is exemplary in a way. Despite hailing from a wealthy business family in Delhi, you decided to carve out your own identity. What do you have to say to the young girls of our society today?
To be a wealthy business family’s member is my fortune. God is very kind. But to reach this stage in life my husband, Sushil, and I have worked very hard. We are self-made people. We have seen lots of upheavals. Material wealth has not touched us. We remain human - which has helped me to maintain my identity as a writer.

As a socially aware writer, how do you see yourself playing a practical role in changing the stereotyped attitude to women in our so-called modern society?
As one grows up one realizes that sex is the sum of structural, functional and behavioural characteristics that distinguish male from female. It refers to the biological dimensions of a being and gender defines the social experience of one’s identity as a man or woman. As a woman, I try to create awareness in my readers to understand the mediocrity and falseness of social systems.

According to you, what has been the course of social progress in India after independence?
In the post-independence era, I feel society has witnessed a rising class of women, who are well educated, independent and progressive. They lead large business houses or multinational companies in India as well as abroad. This is a very good trend.

Has Indian society truly evolved into a modern society?
Indian society is definitely undergoing a change; there is a lot of awareness. I suppose it is because of education and electronic and print media.

In your works, the social message overwhelms the reader more than the art itself. Do you always write with such motives of conveying a social message to your readers?
When I start writing a novel or a story, social message is not my concern. I only write about my experiences, about the society, people and relationships. With that, I explore the heart and matter of my true self that lies beyond the graphics of episodes/incidents so that it can evolve and get complete. Life itself has steered me forth and it continues to guide me.

Your latest novel The Widow of Vrindavan is an intense portrayal of the plight of widows. But the intensity often gives way to melodrama. How do you explain this superficial inclusion in a novel that claims to document reality and has six years of research behind it?
For The Widow of Vrindavan, I collected case histories, interviewed people, saw things happening with my own eyes and when I felt I had enough matter, I wrote this novel. Everything happens, if it has to happen, that is what I feel.

What interests you other than writing?
I love travelling, as it gives me enough insight into nature, history and destiny of people who live in different continents, the natural communication becomes my inspiration.

What is the subject of your next novel?
My new novel will also deal with human experiences of a group of Indian families who have been living in South Africa for generations. Lot of research has to be done; it is too early to speak.