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Describing herself as a late rebel, Nayantara Mallya is inspired to write precisely because of the status quo and our unthinking acceptance of it!
Describing herself as a ‘late rebel’, Nayantara Mallya is inspired to write precisely because of the status quo and our unthinking acceptance of it!
Every month, we recognise 3 among 2500+ contributors, as featured Author of the Month – for their writing that keeps readers engrossed and makes us all think afresh. This month, Nayantara Mallya is one of our 3 featured authors. A writer whose defining feature is Clarity, Nayantara is able to sift the incidentals from what truly matters, and bring it to readers from a fresh perspective. You can view her writing on 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 write to think over things, to articulate my thoughts to myself. I am a very objective person and can often see an issue from everyone’s perspectives, which can be a problem to figure out where exactly I stand, so I write to get it sorted in my head. I write because the written word is my world; there’s nothing as powerful, and once a thought is down in black and white, the greys fade away.
What do you enjoy reading? Does any of it help your writing?
I don’t get to read much these days, but recent books I have read are Sapiens, The Story of the World in 100 Species, and Abundance: The Future is Better than you Think. It indirectly does help my writing, because I need to understand the world through its history and biology, and also stay positive and hopeful for change.
When it comes to writing on/for/about women, what questions and issues drive you the most?
I did not rebel nor did I question as a teen; I’m doing that relatively late in life. I get charged to write when I see women accepting the status quo of their relationships, societal norms and burdens thrust on them, and abuse and exploitation.
Could you narrate an issue or incident in your life which you think was gender related, and you handled it in a way that has made you proud.
Exactly a year back, there was an issue of discrimination in my apartment complex and the tenant family being discriminated against had everything going against them. They were from a minority religion, the mother of the house was single mothering as her husband worked abroad, the owner of the apartment was also a single woman, and the subject of the discrimination was a young man struggling with mental health issues. It was horrifying to me to watch my neighbours try to force (through intimidation) this home-owner to evict her tenants, claiming that the young man was a danger to the neighbours. A young boy in the family was studying for his high school exams, the eldest brother of the siblings had quit his job to come and help his mother. I, with 3 other women, took a stand and fought for their right to stay, and for the home owner to take her own decision to allow them to complete their lease. This was definitely about gender, but also about religion and mental health. There is nothing that gets my blood boiling more than discrimination this blatant, and I’m proud that I was part of the group that pushed right back.
Name 3 other writers or bloggers on Women’s Web whose writing you enjoy reading.
I enjoy Sandhya Renukamba’s and Aparna’s posts. I also like the bold flavour of Akshata Ram’s writing.
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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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