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Ritwika Roy Mutsuddi is an avid blogger who finds that writing is really her way of expressing herself. She shares here her thoughts on writing and especially, writing on women's issues.
Ritwika Roy Mutsuddi is an avid blogger who finds that writing is really her way of expressing herself. She shares here her thoughts on writing and especially, writing on women’s issues.
Finding inspiration in her kids and writing about life as a parent, she is also a strong advocate for women’s rights – starting from women’s place in the family. Ritwika is one of our three featured authors, for June 2017. You can find Ritwika’s writing at Women’s Web here.
Authors are often asked this question, but everyone has their own reasons, very personal to them. So, why do you write?
I am basically an introverted person who doesn’t express much with spoken words but can express a lot better when I write. I write to share my experiences and thoughts.
When and how did you first begin writing?
I used to write as a child but later due to studies and then marriage and motherhood, writing had taken a backseat. I had started sharing my parenting experiences on various platforms and also in my blogs and that’s how my writing journey began again!
Do you have a muse?
I mostly write about parenting, so you can guess my muse! I also love writing about women’s issues and various relationships.
Where do you get your ideas from?
My kids are my biggest inspiration for writing. Apart from that daily incidents around me or in the world. Relationships between different people inspire me. I love reading other authors’ blogs mostly; I am not an avid book reader.
When it comes to writing on/for/about women, what questions and issues drive you the most?
Gender inequality, gender bias, women not getting equal opportunities despite having all the talent and working hard, women still treated as ‘paraya dhan’ by parents and as outsiders by in-laws, the girl child not being welcomed happily; I can go on and on…
Anything you’d like to tell others who would want to write?
I would simply say – don’t think much, just write from the heart. Write in simple words which people can relate to.
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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.
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