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Despite being in her eighties now, writer-activist Mahasweta Devi continues to speak for the rights of the dispossessed, especially the tribal peoples of West Bengal and Bihar.
If one were to detail the awards and honours bestowed upon noted writer Mahasweta Devi, it might be easier to note the ones that she has not received. A prolific writer, Mahasweta Devi’s oeuvre includes such gems as Hazaar Chaurashir Ma, Draupadi and Rudali. Nor is her writing restricted to one genre – her recent work for Tulika, The Why-Why Girl has been very well-received among an entirely different audience – children.
Common to all her work is a strong strain of empathy for the dispossessed, an understanding of Indian society in its many grey shades and a demand that we, the readers, grow up to respect those different from us – whether by age, class, caste or gender. Besides fiction, Mahasweta Devi has written extensively on the discrimination faced by tribal peoples, including apathy and aggression from the State itself.
Why we find her inspiring:
– Because she reminds us that gender is only one of the many axes on which discrimination rests
– Because she refuses to be quiet and raises the uncomfortable subjects that many of us in urban India would rather not think about
– Because she uses her words so effectively
– Because she shows us that age is not a deterrent to being involved
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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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