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Ranga Iyer is a debut author in her early 60s. She began her writing career as a lifestyle journalist with Bombay Times and Bangalore Times in India. After moving to Canada in 2003, Ranga freelanced for online magazines and gained diverse experience working as a customer service representative in restaurants and retail, as well as a photo studio assistant at Amazon.
Butterflies of Success tells a powerful story of perseverance and overcoming poverty. What inspired you to write this novel, and are there any personal experiences or observations that influenced the narrative?
I am fond of narrating strong women’s stories because. Throughout my life, I have come across women in my family and neighbourhood who have strongly held onto their self-worth while becoming the glue of their families.
Let me also make this clear: I am not a feminist. I am fond of strong people of all genders. I was inspired from a woman’s point of view because, being from the same gender, I was able to relate to issues we women face and the mental and emotional power of how we tackle, handle, and solve family problems.
I have a family, and I know what it takes from me to be there for them. And I hate giving up, that is where perseverance comes into play. Perhaps it has to do with my loving life’s challenges.
As for the poverty part, it is symbolism that is at play in my book. None of my characters are poor in their mind and spirit. I believe poverty can be of the mind, emotions, and, of course, money.
I used the richness of minds to inspire people saying, “if you have this, physical poverty can be overcome”.
One of the central themes of the book is the idea that poverty can be overcome with determination, courage, and education. How important was it for you to convey this message, and how do Mukta and Prem embody these qualities in their journey?
Determination, in my opinion, should be given profound thought. This is a weapon, an important tool we all should have in our armour. I am sure we all do, but using this to push our life’s agenda is something many of us miss at times. We do overlook this one. Holding determination closely, the need to build courage to face life’s challenges becomes a priority. The combination of these two is lethal. Because it gives you the clarity to see where you want to reach and how to achieve that goal. Mukta and Prem are not that educated. Prem can see that if his family stays back on the farm, they will never get out of generational poverty, he is determined to immigrate because Prem knows that education holds the power to make the journey of his future generation a lot smoother. And he is proved right when his daughter becomes a doctor despite all that challenges the family goes through.
It was very important for me to convey this message because I have witnessed families that have not only risen on the social ladder but have also helped monetarily and inspired others to follow the path of education to succeed in life.
Also, this is true—in a family of 5 children, though all might get an education and earn a degree, that does not mean they will all become highly successful. But the least they can do with their degree is to become financially independent by using their knowledge.
The character of Mukta plays a pivotal role in the family’s transformation. How did you approach writing her character, and what aspects of her personality do you think readers will relate to or admire the most?
The role of women in a family situation is complex. She, in my opinion, has to be that doctor who has to “heal” the physical, emotional and mental issues of her family. She also has to be the administrator who can run her family efficiently and, most importantly, a management and finance wizard who knows how to handle more income, no income and all the in-betweens.
This is not all; she also has to make sure she carries her partner along with her. When he is weak, she becomes the strength, and when she is weak, she seeks strength from him. At times, it is possible that she might even outwardly pretend to be weak so that the balance in the married life remains undisturbed.
I have come across such women and most of them have all these qualities. Women will be able to relate to all of these qualities of Mukta.
I’m sure readers will admire these character traits in Mukta. Her inner strength in steering her family when they get off track, taking charge of unforeseen situations (Unmarried daughter’s pregnancy is an example), most of all accepting the people in her life for who they are rather than changing them to suit her.
The setting of Butterflies of Success in a village near Bombay adds a rich cultural and social backdrop to the story. How did you incorporate the local culture and social issues into the plot, and how do they shape the challenges the family faces?
I love this in-depth Q&A session with JaamZin. Coming to your question, I grew up soaking up the local culture, observing and experiencing most of the social issues mentioned and addressed in the plot. In the mid-1960s and till the late 1970s, the native families of Chola Village (known as Kolis, Agris) engaged in farming, which was their primary source of income. Some brewed country liquor.
Immigrant families, including mine, worked as clerks and office assistants in Bombay City, which was 50 km away. Those who could not afford education found employment at the local Thakurli Chola Power House, a steam-based power plant built by the British Empire that supplied electricity for railway operations.
Limited access to education and healthcare and reliance mostly on farming meant not-so-great socioeconomic conditions; many locals brewed liquor in their homes to supplement their income.
My protagonists’ Mukta and Prem’s family are immigrants from the farming community. Not having any academic qualifications for landing jobs, they find it harder to realize their dream of educating their daughters and improving their socioeconomic condition.
They see an opportunity to earn money from people consuming liquor brewed by neighbours in their backyards and start selling spicy, boiled chickpeas. Profit from that stall is used to set up a small home-meal service which helps this immigrant family achieve their dreams.
With Butterflies of Success marking your debut as an author, can you give us a glimpse of what readers can expect in your next book? Will it explore similar themes, or are you venturing into new territory with your writing?
I am working on a couple of novels simultaneously. Being a literary fiction author, I am interested in narrating tales connected to underprivileged residents from underdeveloped villages or rural areas in South Asia.
I am drawn to life stories where people overcome challenges, face adversities and do not believe in crumbling under difficulties. I like narrating stories that will inspire people to fight back and achieve their dreams. Life is like that iceberg, where people only see the peak, but the block that was built for decades is hidden. Most of us view life of successful people and wish for that without understanding that no matter how it appears now, these people had to go through a lot before reaching where they are today. This reality inspires and motivates me, and I hope to tell stories that have a similar tone.
Last but not least, I believe in the power of education therefore, I have tied up with https://www.khushiyaanfoundation.org/projectpathshala.php, and a small part of my sales will be donated to supporting education.
The book is available at: https://amzn.to/3zx51uY
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