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Sudeepta Mohapatra Sarangi believes in speaking up for what she believes in. Her feminist husband chose her, she says, because she had made clear that unlike the norm, she wouldn't tolerate her parents being treated any lesser than her husband’s parents.
Sudeepta Mohapatra Sarangi believes in speaking up for what she believes in. Her feminist husband chose her, she says, because she had made clear that unlike the norm, she wouldn’t tolerate her parents being treated any lesser than her husband’s parents.
The Women’s Web team every month identifies three contributors whose work has really resonated with readers, who have brought something new and impactful to our community. This November 2018, Sudeepta Mohapatra Sarangi is one of our featured Authors of the Month.
Sudeepta thinks that for the issues she feels strongly about, and want to do something but finds herself helpless, writing becomes empowerment. You can read Sudeepta Mohapatra Sarangi’s articles here at Women’s Web.
Authors are often asked this question, but everyone has their own reasons, very personal to them. So, why do you write?
Writing for me is liberation. The best way to express myself; many-a-times, to vent out my frustration. For issues, I strongly feel about and want to do something, but find myself helpless, writing becomes empowerment.
What do you enjoy reading? Does any of it help your writing?
I read both fiction and non-fiction. Biographies are my favourites. I regularly follow politics and read about social issues. Reading fiction develops my imagination and definitely helps me in exploring more and writing better. A few authors who have influenced me are Ruskin Bond, R. K. Narayan, Paulo Coelho, Maya Angelou & Jhumpa Lahiri.
When it comes to writing on/for/about women, what questions and issues drive you the most?
Gender inequality and patriarchy! All problems of women stem from these two issues, in one way or the other. I believe that the social construct of gender inequality, in fact has its roots in patriarchy, especially in the Indian societies.
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.
We are only two sisters in my family, with no brother. I have grown up watching many of our relatives and neighbours making my parents (especially, my mother) feel deprived because they don’t have a son. This was actually the seed from which the feminism within me has developed over time. So much that while talking to the prospective grooms for my ‘arranged marriage’, I would spell out to them, right from the beginning of the conversation, that unlike the norm, in no manner, whatsoever, will I tolerate my parents being treated any lesser than the groom’s parents. Coming from a semi-conservative middle-class family, even my parents disliked this barefaced attitude. However, the same approach became the reason why my feminist husband chose to marry me!
What are the things you would like to write about in the future for Women’s Web?
I would love to write on any and every issue that affects the status of women in our society, be it from within the home and family or the world outside.
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Being a writer, Nivedita Louis recognises the struggles of a first-time woman writer and helps many articulate their voice with development, content edits as a publisher.
“I usually write during night”, says author Nivedita Louis during our conversation. Chuckling she continues,” It’s easier then to focus solely on writing. Nivedita Louis is a writer, with varied interests and one of the founders of Her Stories, a feminist publishing house, based in Chennai.
In a candid conversation she shared her journey from small-town Tamil Nadu to becoming a history buff, an award-winning author and now a publisher.
Nivedita was born and raised in a small town in Tamil Nadu. It was for schooling that she first arrived in Chennai. Then known as Madras, she recalls being awed by the city. Her love-story with the city, its people and thus began which continues till date. She credits her perseverance and passion to make a difference to her days as a vocational student among the elite sections of Madras.
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