Mitali Chakravarti founded borderlessjournal.com which has published its first hard copy anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles: An Anthology of Writings from Across the World. She has recently brought out her first collection of poetry, Flight of Angsana Oriole: Poems and has an earlier book of humorous essays on living in China where she spent eight years, In the Land of Dragons. Ratnottama Sengupta has had a rich and varied career as journalist, film critic, director, writer, and more. She has authored works such as Krishna’s Cosmos: The Creativity of an Artist, Sculptor & Teacher (Mapin Publishing, 2003) and edited notable collections like That Bird Called Happiness (Speaking Tiger, 2018). She is a National Film Award recipient for her writings on cinema.
<p>This bold and compelling anthology amplifies the voices of women across South Asia, challenging entrenched patriarchy and advocating for justice across borders. From heart-wrenching accounts of gender-based violence to tales of courage and defiance, the real-life stories, analytical essays, and inspiring poetry in this collection illuminate both the harsh realities and the resilience of women in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Women suffer from a range of violence, including rape, acid attacks, mass rapes during communal violence, dowry deaths, caste-based oppression, killings in the name of ‘honour’, and much worse. Our Stories, Our Struggle is not just a collection of narratives about violations but a call to action, inviting readers to join the chorus of voices demanding change.</p><p>At its core, this volume confronts societal norms that have suppressed women’s freedoms and safety. Its narratives, written by women, have been inspired by pivotal events like the ‘Nirbhaya’ case, and the numerous brutalities ignored, if not perpetrated, by regional governments. They grapple with cultural shifts, complex emotions, and the impact of trauma on survivors of violence and their families, prompting readers to envision a future where equity and fairness prevail.</p>
