Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Arundhati Roy is a literary genius, a social activist and a person who believes in fighting for the rights of disadvantaged people.
Arundhati Roy studied architecture at the School of Planning and Architecture, but it was literature that was her true calling. Her screenplay, which was based on her own life account of an architecture student, titled In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones won rave acclaim and she also performed in Electric Moon.
It was her critical take on Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen that placed Arundhati in the limelight. Her fierce and unabashed questioning of making a movie on the rape of a woman, without her consent made the headlines of a number of tabloids.
Arundhati began writing her first novel The God of Small Things in the year 1992 – which on completion in 1996 won the 1997 Booker Prize. The book was also hailed as one of the notable books of the year by the New York Times .
She has been actively involved in a number of social causes including independence of Kashmir (for which she faced threats of arrest), Narmada dam project and planned on contributing to the book titled We Are One, which delves into the different cultures of people around the world.
Named as one of the world’s 100 most inspirational women by The Guardian, she has received a number of awards including the Booker Prize, Lannan Foundation’s Cultural Freedom Award, Sydney Peace Prize, Sahitya Akademi awards and Norman Mailer Prize.
Why we find her inspiring:
– Even after severe criticism and threats to be incarcerated, Arundhati Roy continued to be a social activist and voiced her opinion bravely.
– A role model for those who fight for what they believe is right.
*Photo credit: Frontline Kashmir.
Women's Web is a vibrant community for Indian women, an authentic space for us to be ourselves and talk about all things that matter to us. Follow us via the read more...
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
Please enter your email address