The desire to write about women came early for Indian-American writers Chitra B Divakuni who wanted to know why it was so little about the character of women in a mythical tale such as Mahabharat and Ramayan.
“My grandfather’s stories first told me to have a lot about courage, warcraft, and statecraft from men.
Even the description of the weapons was given more space than a woman,” he said.
Interest for women who inhabit the sidelines finally took him to write.
Banerjee, whose book, Illusion Palace and Charm Forest, among others, retelled Hindu mythology from a feminist perspective, spoke at the Litfest 2021 to fellow writer Anuja Chandramouli about strong women’s love.
But the women he picture is not without their shortcomings.
“This perfection burden is placed in women by patriarchy,” he said, adding his character and deformally.
His new book ‘The last queen’ traces the story of Rani-to-wealth Rani Jindan, the youngest and final Queen of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Jindan Kaur is the daughter of kingdom kennel guards with a difficult childhood that rose to become a queen of legendary soldiers and has been described as “Mrs.
Khalsa.”
This book highlights the geopolitics of the complex at that time, and severe disputes between different kingdoms and Britain.
He said the lessons learned at that time was true even today.
“If even one or two kingdoms have joined hands, England won’t be able to succeed as much as they do.
True even today.
The state must gather or they weaken themselves,” he said.
