OUR STORIES, OUR STRUGGLE: VIOLENCE AND THE LIVES OF WOMEN - NARRATIVES AND POETRY BY SOUTH ASIAN WO

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.
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.