More women take up pen to narrate small stories

Better literature

An increasing number of women are now stepping out in the world of literature to shape up the voice of feminist authors, feel well-known women authors and publishers.

“As a feminist publisher, I find it interesting to see more and more women willing to write. We often talk if there’s ‘women’s writing’ in India, but on seeing writers coming up with ideas on all sorts of issues, it’s great,” said Urvashi Butalia, director and co-founder of publishing house Kali for Women.

“And other than just works of non-fiction, women writers are also coming up with pertinent issues such as female foeticide and dowry brought out through fiction writing,” Butalia added. Renowned authors and names from the publishing industry gathered here on Saturday at an award function for Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) short story writing competition. 

In the first-ever story-writing competition by the professional organisation for women journalists, three best story writers were awarded among 75 entries received. 

Prasar Bharati chairperson and founder-president of IWPC, Mrinal Pande, said, “It is notable that some of the best writers in the country are women. And they are present among us. But when writing begins to happen, the mind is androgynous. There is a man inside every woman writer and vice versa.” Treading into the art of story writing was pulling women writers into literature, the authors said. 

“Short story writing is the most difficult kind of writing as opposed to the popular impression that this form is inferior or easier than longer novels. These are exciting times for both writers and publishers in India, and we find more women wanting to write now,” said Butalia.

The first prize was won by Chennai-based short story writer Hema S Raman, the second prize was bagged by freelance journalist Azera Parveen Rahman, who reports for IANS, while the third prize was bagged by Vijaya Venkataraman, who teaches Spanish at Delhi University.