By Anjum Choudhry Nayyar
Shruti Malur
Shruti Malur has the gift of gab. So she says..so her blog says. Nonstopbakbak.wordpress.com caught my eye right away because it made me laugh out loud! I remember my mom using the phrase ‘bak bak bundh kar’ growing up so that was the picture I had in my mind.
On this journey of masalamommas, I’ve come across so many amazing women, moms and their voices. I love stumbling upon interesting and real blogs in the blogosphere that provide a mom’s perspective in a unique way. Shruti, originally from Bangalore has been living in the US for almost six years. She was once a product analyst and now she’s blogging her life as a full-time mom. She says when she’s not busy with her 2-year-old, she loves to connect with people, read, write and listen to music. This blogger and mom is also trained as a carnatic classical singer. You can hear her voice here. So when I had the opportunity to talk to Shruti, I couldn’t resist asking her, ‘where the heck did she come up with nonstopbakbak’ from?
She is our November feature in our South Asian blogger series.
Where did you come up with the title of your blog?
Nonstopbakbak.wordpress.com. The name relates to me, as I talk, in excess mostly. It is my twitter handle as well (@nonstopbakbak), hence the need to keep it similar.
What inspires you to write?
Writing is the best way one can express one’s thoughts sans all barriers. You don’t need to be “politically correct” when you write because you are not trying to satisfy anyone’s need, but yours. I started a blog for the very same reason. To jot down my everyday experiences, to say what I’ve been unable to say before (for the fear or being typecast, and judged) and to reach out to mothers. Writing is something that I have not done before, and I’ve come to realize that I thoroughly enjoy it. They are so many unspoken memories and untold stories. That inspires me to write.
At the risk of sounding cliched, I can say motherhood is a lot of fun, but it does get lonely and no one tells you that in person or in books. Through blogging, I am hoping to reach out to other mothers as well, to know that they are not alone.
What do you write about?
I’m new to the world of blogging, and until now majority of my posts are about my experiences as a mother and what I’ve learnt in the process. I do write on other topics as well. Only time will tell if I would pick a particular genre. At the moment I’m enjoying writing about everything.
What do you like most about blogging?
It would be the ease at which one can express their thoughts and not paying heed to a traditional way of writing. You own your posts and you make your own rules. Write when you can, about whatever you choose to write. The freedom of expressing oneself has never been easier.
Often South Asians don’t talk about things like taboo subjects, feelings in public, do you find blogging helps you work through that?
South Asians have a relatively conservative setup where talking about a bunch of topics is considered a taboo. I definitely want to touch topics which would normally won’t be discussed in conversations. Blogging definitely makes it more easier, as there is no need to “watch it” when you write.
Do you feel connected to the blogging community?
Since I am a novice blogger, I still haven’t explored the blogging community to its fullest yet. Social networking (Twitter, Facebook, Reddit etc) has introduced me to some very fine bloggers and writers who inspire me.
What role has social media played in your life?
Social media has been phenomenal in terms of connecting with people and knowing so much. There is a huge difference between what you think you know, and what there actually is. It has been my primary source of information with various topics. I’ve met some fantastic people, mothers and made new friends on this platform. It has given me a place and people to reach out to, without the barriers of time and place. It has in someways been a mode of expressing my thoughts, when nobody else listens.
Who are some of your favorite bloggers and why?
Here are a few blogs that I regularly follow:
mydaughtersmum.blogspot.com-Natasha Badhwar. Her blog has in many ways inspired me to write.
mommygolightly.wordpress.com – Lalita Iyer. She has never ceased to make me laugh, learn and cry and the same time. Her style of writing is very unique.
daddysan.wordpress.com – Oculus- Writes about various topics and has a great style of writing.
probad.wordpress.com – Proteem Baduri He has a way with words. They seem to love him.
www.sepiamutiny.com– Gave me a deep insight into the lives of South Asian Americans, their take on growing up in America and the kind of issues they face. Although they don’t update the blog anymore, I still go back and read some of my favorite posts.
Do yo ever talk about cultural issues on your blog and what kind of feedback did you recieve?
Haven’t really tread on a whole lot of cultural issues yet. I’m sure whatever feedback and response I may get, would only further add on to my list of experiences and learning.
You can follow Shruti’s Blog at nonstopbakbak.wordpress.com and on twitter @nonstopbakbak
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