‘Writing a Poem which Feels like Lighting a Pyre,’ ‘Pandemic Ghazal,’ and ‘Bhetki,’ Three Poems – Writing Women

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‘Writing a Poem which Feels like Lighting a Pyre,’ ‘Pandemic Ghazal,’ and ‘Bhetki,’ Three Poems

Rayan Chakrabarti

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Essential Reading
Library of Feminist Legacies
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In Translation
Record and Remembering

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Essential Reading
Library of Feminist Legacies
Movements and Methods
Writing Sisterhood
In Translation
Record and Remembering

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Rayan Chakrabarti

Rayan Chakrabarti is a writer hailing from Kolkata. His poems have been published in MulberryLiterary and Mascara Literary Review among others. His work deals with the intersections of memory, nation and violence.

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“I can share with you the stories of people when

“I can share with you the stories of people when you were born. I can tell you how they felt when you were building a space for yourself, cutting through their river, corn fields, and forests. I can recount tales of families shattered by your announcement, your uninvited arrival.”

Fouziya Tehzeeb’s letter was prompted by a visit, but encapsulates a lifetime of experiences. We’re honoured that she shared it with us, so that we can share it with you. All the photographs are hers as well. It was very difficult to select excerpts for the slides here, and you really must read the full piece.

Find it on writingwomen.co or link in bio and follow @fouziyatehzeeb for more writing and beautiful photography.
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#writingwomen #letterstoaline #photographs #kashmir #womenswriting #creativenonfiction

What is reading if not bridge building, and how in

What is reading if not bridge building, and how incredible to read, and build bridges together

After talking about an online reading group for months, we’re finally here and delighted to grow our community of people in love with women’s stories. We’ll be reading women’s writing, mostly from the global south or diaspora, fiction and nonfiction (probably more nonfiction:), focusing on translated and intersectional feminist works

To start, we’ll be meeting once every two months, and to engage and broaden our circle of conspirators, each session will be co-facilitated by a guest reader or writer. Drop us a note if you’re interested in joining, we’ll organize, connect and support each other’s reading through an Instagram group, with discussion sessions on zoom

If you’ve been following our stories you probably already know that our first read is ‘The Many Lives of Syeda X’ by Neha Dixit @nehadixit123 , that centres the lives of women urban migrant workers through a brilliantly told account of one woman’s life, researched over decades. This first session will be co-facilitated by the wonderful Shruti Jain, @bookishruti , lover of women’s words and histories

In reading together we’re reminded of Gloria Anzaldúa’s words “Caminante, no hay puentes, se hace puentes al andar”, “Traveller, there are no bridges, one builds them as one walks.” Travel with us through women’s writing, to bridging, seeing, knowing, and being in our world, differently

Photo credit: @natasha_khurana forever book club conspirator 🌺
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#writingwomen #readingwomen #readingcircles #consciousreading #manylivesofsyedax #bookclubs #nonfictionreads #womenswriting #womenreadingwomen

“A bold account of those who dare to tell their

“A bold account of those who dare to tell their stories of struggle, and even go to jail for doing so. The book opens with this powerful statement, setting the tone for what the readers can expect: a deep exploration of the human spirit amidst the harsh realities of two regions most heavily militarized by the Indian State - Bastar and Kashmir.”

Adithya Kamesh’s review of Flaming Forest, Wounded Valley by Freny Manecksha details the strong parallels of state militarization and occupation in Bastar and Kashmir while also highlighting the book’s stories of resistance in the face of repression. His thoughtful review emphasizes the disproportionate impacts of violence on women and family, and connects to Indigenous struggles for land and life in our global world. On the making of transnational solidarities he offers, “These narratives offer hope and unite people across borders in a shared fight, reinforcing the undeniable power of collective resistance.”

Read the full review on writingwomen.co and see @adithya_kamesh for more writing and reviews 🌺
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#bookreviews #flamingforestwoundedvalley #storiesof #bastar #kashmir #frenymanecksha #narratives #collectiveresistance #transnationalsolidarities #readingwomen #nonfictionreviews #nonfictionnovember #writingwomen

We would have to be gardeners in every scenario of

We would have to be gardeners in every scenario of political theatre, to keep the flowers flowering long after

Leonard and Virginia Woolf’s exchange is shared on the opening page of Raja Shehadeh’s ‘Occupation Diaries,’ read it all
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#writingwomen #rajashehadeh #occupationdiaries #leonardwoolf #virginiawoolf #theiriseswillflower

“The Many Lives of Syeda X is, simultaneously, t

“The Many Lives of Syeda X is, simultaneously, the story of Syeda and the story of a nation.”

The first of our selected book reviews is Anam Kazmi’s review of Neha Dixit’s new book ‘The Many Lives of Syeda X’ and we couldn’t think of a better beginning to our call for reviews. Anam Kazmi’s review is personal and poignant, confirming all our suspicions that this book is going to be a deeply memorable and compelling read.

Read the full review on writingwomen.co or link in bio, and see Anam’s page for more writing
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Please note this is a corrected version of the original post that mistakenly referenced fictionalized elements, as written in the Author’s Note of the book, no accounts are fictionalized, and the processes of interview, story gathering, and remembering are detailed with care 🌺

#themanylivesofsyedax #bookreviews #writingwomen #nonfiction #nehadixit #investigativejournalism #literaryreview #indianlit #intersectionalreads #nonfictionnovember #womenwritingwomen #readingwomen #ourgenderedreadinglens

Copies of ‘a million kites’ arrived today, the

Copies of ‘a million kites’ arrived today, these testimonials by children in Gaza will be familiar if you’ve been witnessing the videos of Palestinian journalists, they break my heart still. I learnt of this book compiled and translated by @leilaboukarim, designed by @iaitms from @anna.noor_author ‘s reading at @kutubnadubai - all coming together as community that uplifts despite the pain

If you’re looking to channel your sorrow and rage into action, order copies and share their words. I’ve ordered extras to share with people from Dubai, dm for details
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#amillionkites #testimoniesandpoemsfromthechildrenofgaza

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