Delhi: (IANS) 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.
Well-known authors and names from the
publishing industry gathered here 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.
Present for the award ceremony, 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," Pande said.
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. Writers should not get discouraged by
this wall of opposition. These are exciting times for both writers and
publishers in India, and we find more women wanting to write now," said
Butalia.
The jury included author Githa
Hariharan, Urvashi Butalia, and Antara Dev Sen, editor of The Little Magazine.
The first prize was won by Chennai-based
short story writer Hema. S. Raman for "A Good Father is Hard to
Find", the second prize was bagged by freelance journalist Azera Parveen
Rahman, who reports for newswire IANS, for her story "Letters to Unborn
Sister", while the third prize was bagged by Vijaya Venkataraman, who
teaches Spanish at Delhi University, for her story "A Moment of
Reckoning".
