Editor's Note
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Seven stories by women, seven stories about women – but for that commonality, this is an eclectic collection. Or is it? Although their voices are distinct and their stories quite different, Jahnavi Barua, Priya Sarukkai Chabria and Saudha Kasim each write about a woman recognising her self. All three stories examine the premise of marriage and a woman's place in it. In contrast, in Anita Roy's Jenna, set in the terrifying bleakness of a futuristic prison, we confront isolation and the tentative yet essential instinct to develop relationships. Radhika Venkatarayan also writes of relationships, in this case, the complex ones within a multi-generational family structure. In 16th July, Uma Parameswaran tells of the grace of a woman forced to face the extreme. Finally, in the contemporary allegory, Ma Tujhe Salaam, Divya Dubey deals with the nature of power. Each of the stories in the edition touched us, either through their delicacy, searing intensity or their uncompromising picture of corruption. We thank our contributors and hope you will appreciate the stories too.

 

Our next issue, which we will release at the cusp of summer and monsoon, will be themed around mythology in its broadest sense. We are not looking for mythologies that are necessarily of a specific denomination. Do contribute! As we said in our last issue, it is not only the retelling we are interested in, but your perspectives. Stories that do not fit the theme will not be considered for the mythology edition.

 

 

The cover design by Yamuna Mukherjee contains work entitled Worth the Weight by Nibha Sikander, and images from a piece of Kalamkari or crafted-by-pen fabric depicting stories from Hindu mythology.

Nibha Sikander is a Mumbai-based artist who has studied painting at the M.S. University, Baroda, and recently exhibited her works at the Strand Art Room gallery. Worth the Weight was executed while she was artist-in-residence at the American School of Bombay and is part of a series on 'the undergarment as a seductive yet empty metaphor for femininity'.


Selected stories may contain language or details that could be viewed as offensive. Readers below 18 are cautioned to use discretion. Views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily supported by Out of Print.