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Anupama Jain is often at her best when commenting on the world around her and current events, in a way that makes sense to every reader.
Every month, we identify three among our community of 2000+ contributors, as the featured authors of the month. For Dec 2017, ‘senior school mom’ Anupama Jain is one of our featured authors at Women’s Web. You can read her writing here at Women’s Web as well as at her own blog, Akka Acerbic. Anupama writes on many things, but especially on topical issues that impact Indian society. She is a voice of reason in the cacophony that often confronts many of us in the modern world.
Authors are often asked this question, but everyone has their own reasons, very personal to them. So, why do you write?
As I have said often, I am an accidental late entrant into this enigmatic world of writing. My writing journey is barely five years old. I started writing little notes to overcome a particularly tough year. One thing led to the other and here I am awaiting the launch of my first novel, early next year. Writing in my case has been therapeutic and liberating. It has given me a new direction and a brand new identity. When the churning thoughts within, are penned cogently and presented to the world at large, it is an exhilarating experience. The icing on the cake is to find that overwhelming resonance. Writing has become the right choice as it has set me free to explore a different side to me.
What do you enjoy reading? Does any of it help your writing?
I enjoy reading contemporary fiction, analytical blogs, social lens pieces and the Sunday opinions on politics, in most newspapers. These help me process the information, fine tune my random ideas and satirise the same. With contemporary fiction, I try to imbibe the subtle nuances used and imbue my write-ups with the same. Though I must confess, it is an extremely trying process. But I’m learning on the job. Albeit slowly.
When it comes to writing on/for/about women, what questions and issues drive you the most?
Conditioned as we are, by the mothballed social mores, we are scared to walk that extra mile to bend the staid rules and make our own destiny, without worrying about the supposed repercussions. The narratives are changing but barely. The rampant misogyny and the inherent inequality riles me and drives me to pen. And hope floats.
My own journey hasn’t been without the usual turbulence. Through my writing, I found a release.
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.
My son always knew his career path. My daughter is still unclear about what she wants to do. Some have even suggested that I needn’t worry about my daughter much because the son had it already figured. Daughters anyways will settle for marital bliss. I have handled it beautifully, each and every-time, by stating that a career for both my children is essential and simply non-negotiable.
Name 3 other writers or bloggers on Women’s Web whose writing you enjoy reading.
I’m a newbie in comparison, I have been here for less than eight months. I enjoy reading all the stories under the muse-of-the-month category and the fantastic write-ups of various young ladies. Though it would be presumptuous on my part, to name only three, I love to read articles by Deepti Menon, Kirthi Jayakumar, Anupama, Akshata, Maitabi, Tanvi, Tina, and many more.
It has been a pleasure being associated with Women’s Web.
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