Literature is considered the best source to understand and combat social issues. Throughout history, radical authors have yielded a pen to fight injustice. To educate and to inspire. Every piece you read has been influenced by a political or social issue of the times. In recent years, literature has become one of the most important tools to fight social mores.
Books are not just for enjoyment, although there is nothing wrong with reading feel-good books. If you are looking to be more aware, follow me through the #CauseAChatter series as I bring to you some great book recommendations on a range of issues.
What is #CauseAChatter
Blogging with a purpose. Using your voice and platform to raise awareness about a cause you feel strongly about. That is the thought behind the Cause a Chatter campaign by Blogchatter.
This year, Blogchatter is championing three causes – Mental Health Talks, Gender Talks, and Environmental Talks. All through 2020, I used my platform to raise awareness about allergies. In 2021, I would be talking about my favorite subject – books in alignment with the causes. I would be sharing book recommendations on all three causes. Books across genres. Not the usual suspects but books that are under the radar. Lesser known books that need to be read.
Gender Talks
Gender Talks is my first pick for the Cause A Chatter campaign. Over the next three months, I would be sharing recommendations on empowering literature that inspires. And some that shock. Fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, biographies, poetry, and essays. The trailblazers and unsung heroes. Diverse writing from India and around the world. Contemporary or historical works by women, men, and non-binaries.
Essential Reading to Understand Feminism in India
Feminism is a broad topic and each of us has our own interpretation of the term. When we think of books on feminism and gender equality, We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tops everyone’s list. But there are books about topics closer to home. Topics you and I as Indians can relate to. And writings we are often unaware of.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. It is impossible to compile all the books on feminism in one list. These books that might be difficult to read. But read we must.
Chup: Breaking the Silence About India’s Women by Deepa Narayan
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We pride ourselves is being strong, independent women. But are we really?
Chup: Breaking the Silence About India’s Women by Deepa Narayan is a meticulously researched book, based on 600 detailed interviews with women and men across India’s metros. It identifies key habits that dominate an Indian women’s everyday life. Irrespective of class, education, or financial status. Quoting the author “Chup will hold a mirror to yourself – and you may not like what you see.“
Seeing Like A Feminist by Nivedita Menon
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“Feminism is not about that final moment of triumph but about the gradual transformation of the social field so decisively that old markers shift forever.“
The world through a feminist lens. Seeing Like A Feminist by Nivedita Menon covers a range of topics including social structure, class politics, and religion in India. It is also about the global and intersectional movements of feminism. A book that forces you to think.
Essential Reading to Understand Feminism in India – Non-Fiction Book Recommendations @CindyAnnDSilva @nooranand @events_showcase @RREStudios #BlogaberryDazzle #BohoPonderings Share on X
Lifting the Veil: Selected Writings of Ismat Chughtai
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Allow me to re-introduce the grand lady of Indian literature, Ismat Chugtai. One who explored female sexuality through her writings at a time when it was considered blasphemous. It is difficult to pick one single book. But if you wish to begin reading her works, Lifting the Veil is a great start. A collection of twenty-one of her best non-fiction and fiction writing.
Are you are wondering why her book features on the list of lesser-known ones? Simply because a lot many are unaware of her works. We need to celebrate her more. We owe her that and a whole lot more.
Writing Caste/Writing Gender: Reading Dalit Women’s Testimonios by Sharmila Rege
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Dalit feminism is often presumed to be silent. But it is far from It. It is rich, powerful, and layered.
Writing Caste/Writing Gender by Sharmila Rege features extensive extracts from eight Dalit women’s life-narratives or testimonios. Across the years from 1920s until today. It explores issues such as food, hunger, community, caste, labor, education, violence, and more.
What are your favorite non-fictions by Indian authors on Feminism? Do share about them in the comments below.
Essential Reading to Understand Feminism in India – Non-Fiction Book Recommendations @blogchatter #CauseAChatter #GenderTalks #BookChatter #BohoPonderings Share on X
This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla, and happily SPONSORED BY RRE Studios and SHOWCASE Events.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small percentage of the sale at no cost to you.
Photo credit: Canva.com
January 20, 2021 @ 6:37 pm
The plight of dalit women is very very disheartening indeed! There nothing much that we even do about it, we read about them and the struggles they go through. I am happy you choose to bring up such a sensitive topic for #causeachatter, I will be buying the book on Amazon.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:19 pm
Thank you Shail. That is so true. Writing Caste/Writing Gender should be made required reading.
January 25, 2021 @ 1:02 pm
These are some ni e recommendations. Will add it to my TBR list.
January 20, 2021 @ 7:28 pm
So commendable of you to pick these books up Ritu. I shall look forward to your reviews. I’m read The Colour Purple at the moment and how it’s breaking my heart!
January 24, 2021 @ 10:20 pm
Thank you Sonia. I am yet to read The Colour Purple, have been hearing so much about it.
January 20, 2021 @ 10:35 pm
Dalit women’s lives are difficult… This topic is sensitive and worth a discussion… These books are indeed good!
January 24, 2021 @ 10:21 pm
Thank you Monidipa
January 21, 2021 @ 2:00 am
These books looks like a true reading and are of a calling and thought provoking reads. I agree, we can learn so much from books. Literature has so much tell us.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:23 pm
Exactly Alpana. Literature plays a very important role in shaping our ideas.
January 21, 2021 @ 10:33 am
A very informative post. A must read for readers interested in the topic.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:23 pm
Thank you.
January 21, 2021 @ 2:53 pm
Your book list is impressive Ritu. I will look forward for your reviews, as I haven’t read this kind of books till date and I can very well take a guess that those books need a strong heart and mind to digest the facts.
January 23, 2021 @ 5:54 pm
What amazing book recommendations! Thank you for this enriching post.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:28 pm
Thank you so much Purba
January 24, 2021 @ 10:24 pm
Thank you, Suhasini. That is quite right. Sometimes, we need to read difficult books.
January 21, 2021 @ 3:23 pm
I have not read any book on feminism yet. Will pick few from your wonderful list. thanks for sharing . These are definitely must read books.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:36 pm
Thank you Swati. These books are a great start.
January 21, 2021 @ 5:51 pm
This is a good list of must read books. I will check them out too.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:36 pm
Thank you Prerna
January 22, 2021 @ 6:02 am
I am also doing #Causeachatter this year and excited to read posts from other fellow bloggers too. your theme “Gender talk” is really great and the books that you had mentioned in this post sounds really amazing. all the best for challenge.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:38 pm
Thank you Surbhi. I am yet to catch up on the #CauseAChatter posts. Looking forward to reading yours. Best wishes to you too.
January 22, 2021 @ 11:48 am
I really need to go beyond ‘We Should All be Feminists’! I didn’t know of any other book except Ishmat Chugtai’s from your recommendations and haven’t read that one. So am taking a note and will definitely add them to my TBR.
It is great that you have taken up #CauseAChatter this year and what an amazing way to execute the dialogue on feminism and gender equality. Ritu, my best wishes to you!
January 24, 2021 @ 10:40 pm
Thank you so much, Ninu. There are so many excellent reads. I am hoping to bring them to the fore throughout the series.
January 22, 2021 @ 3:48 pm
I am loving your posts. I have never picked up such topic till now. Lifting the veil seems to be a good read. Thanks for sharing books of some unknown authors too.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:42 pm
Thank you, Sonia. That is an excellent pick. The purpose of my blog has always been to promote lesser-known books and authors who deserve more recognition.
January 22, 2021 @ 5:29 pm
Though Iam more of a fiction reader, I always champion women’s causes and bat for equal rights and zero gender discrimination. Some of the books look really promising.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:43 pm
Thank you Vasumathi. Stay tuned for the next post in the series where I will be recommending fiction books.
January 23, 2021 @ 7:28 pm
The first book got me interested very easily as you said there are certain things like that we remain silent as we know a very little would get better for us being women.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:47 pm
That is so true, Sivaranjini. But it is high time to break the silence.
January 23, 2021 @ 11:59 pm
You are a true blue Bibliophile, Ritu. You read so many books and review them too for us. Indian books have finally found readers. I would love to read Ismat Chugtai’s Lifting the veil. Chup and Seeing like a feminist too sound very promising. You motivate me to start reading again.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:50 pm
Thank you for your kind words, Harjeet 🙂
January 24, 2021 @ 5:19 am
That’s a great list of books. I will definitely try to read some of them. Your post is very motivating.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:50 pm
Thank you Abha
January 24, 2021 @ 10:28 am
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful list of recommendations of books on feminism. I am looking forward to reading your posts for Cause a chatter.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:52 pm
Thank you Archana
January 24, 2021 @ 5:37 pm
I absolutely love visiting your blog. These recommendations are required and as humans we must read them, not that only women must read this, men too must read and understand the perspective.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:54 pm
Thank you for your kind words, Srishti. Completely agree, these books need to read by men too.
January 24, 2021 @ 7:11 pm
I really love the books that you’ve chosen that would be part of your posts. The plight of dalit women is seriously something that needs more consideration
January 24, 2021 @ 10:56 pm
Thank you Sindhu
January 24, 2021 @ 8:57 pm
Dalit women’s lives are difficult. This topic is sensitive and worth a discussion..That’s a great list of books
January 24, 2021 @ 10:57 pm
Thank you, Jyoti. A very important topic and we need more books on them.
January 24, 2021 @ 9:11 pm
Honestly speaking Ritu, I haven’t read any of them, so thank you for introducing such books to me 🙂
January 24, 2021 @ 10:58 pm
My pleasure, Priyanka 🙂
January 24, 2021 @ 10:35 pm
You have opted a good topic for reading, and seriously I never thought of reading such books. But I am impressed with the Dalit women written by Ms. Sharmila.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:58 pm
Thank you Bhawna.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:47 pm
What a great compilation of books Ritu. I have heard a lot about Ismat Chughtai and adding this to my TBR. Also, recommending these less known books for #causeachatter is one of the best ways to gather knowledge on these subjects.
January 24, 2021 @ 10:59 pm
Thank you Amritha. There is so much literature out there on the topic that people do not know about.
January 24, 2021 @ 11:34 pm
This post is amazing. i have never thought to read such but your words are motivating me to do so. Thanks and keep writing.
January 31, 2021 @ 11:48 pm
Thank you Nehal 🙂
January 25, 2021 @ 12:40 am
i will read these books in full josh but you know what in the back of my head an idea is jumping around that once you read it you will never be able to unread. I like many other women have been conditioned to think and behave and be like a women in this world. so now my dilemma is to be or not to be.
January 31, 2021 @ 11:50 pm
That is true Urvashi. But we do need to read difficult books. For our sake and for the sake of our girls.
January 25, 2021 @ 11:39 am
These are very thought provoking books and definitely the kind of Literature we all need to read and imbibe from. 🙂
January 31, 2021 @ 11:50 pm
Exactly Payal. These books need to be read.
January 28, 2021 @ 9:26 pm
You’re sooo right in saying Literature is one of the best ways to address social issues. A good story lives forever, imprinted in humanity
January 31, 2021 @ 11:52 pm
Exactly Leha. And as always, thank you for the guidance and for helping me shape up the series 🙂
August 17, 2023 @ 11:14 am
Thanks for sharing about feminism.
Dalit women survive more as compared to other Dalit people. Their life is so difficult.