http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-20/kochi/30421942_1_writers-hay-festival-literary-festival
'We hate being called female writers'
TNN Nov 20, 2011, 12.52AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Dalit poets had shown a vicarious pleasure
about being branded at 'Reading Room' the other day during one of the
sessions at Hay Festival.
However, on the concluding day of the literary festival, the venue was
the same but the views were completely dissonant. Famous Malayalam
writers Chandramati and K R Meera fiercely told a packed crowd that
they hate being called 'female writers'.
"If we are called so, why can't the others be called male writers. But
we have never heard that term,'' said K R Meera during a session on
'The inner courtyard: Women's fiction in Malayalam'. She went on to
say that such kind of branding will never help in the evolution and
growth of literature.
Nodding to her views, Chandramati called branding in literature as a
kind of confinement. "Excluding female writers from the mainstream
scenario will restrain woman writers. Personally I have never enjoyed
being called a female writer.'' She added that she had written not
just about women and that she had often ventured into various social
realms. "Still, it is unfortunate that I am being branded by the
literary world.''
Chandramati also declared herself as a feminist and said, "I love
being a woman. I love being a writer. But I detest the combination
called woman writer.'' Speaking about renowned Malayalam novelist
Lalithambika Antharganam, she said that Lalithambika played safe and
her narration was indirect.
"If you closely observe her works, it is evident that she was keen on
protecting herself. She never wanted to endanger her position in the
society. Once Antharganam had said that life of a woman is like a
sweetened poison. It is painful and enjoyable. I would say her fiction
was an attempt at sweetening the poison. She was so scared to tell
truths plainly.''
She even praised K Saraswathy Amma, a lesser known figure in Malayalam
fiction, as the most radical among woman writers. "She had the courage
to say what she wanted. She was fearless and direct." Meera however
reminded that Saraswathy Amma was neglected and even forgotten by the
critics. "It was like a lesson for all those woman writers who dared
to speak the unpleasant truths.''
When feminist scholar G S Jayasree asked Meera what way she would
choose, the writer said that she writes what she believes in.
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
