Considering the huge disparity, female authors are dissatisfied with their representation at various fronts, especially when it comes to freely express their voice through literary works.
Tribal women authors from across the country, who participated in the All India Tribal Women Writers’ meet here on Friday said that their cultural, spiritual, academic and financial position have been affected greatly due to the intervention of others who often tries to force their belief on them.
“There exists a massive inconsistency when it comes to the ‘Freedom of Expression’ in context of female writers’. Female authors’ voices are suppressed even when they try to highlight the pleas of the most downtrodden people,” said Vandana Tete, a renowned tribal author, while addressing the concluding function of the two-day conclave.
“Even today, ‘Freedom of Expression’ merely exists for namesake for females. We are forced to follow the patriarchal system, despite of the fact that there is already a huge dearth of female writers,” Tete added.
The programme organized by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi in association with Jharkhandi Bhasha Sahitya Sanskriti Akhra not just provided a common platform to the female tribal writers of all age groups but also gave them an opportunity to present their ideas keeping the developmental activities of their respective States.
Highlighting on the important aspects of contemporary tribal women writing and the challenges ahead, the female writers’ fraternity unanimously added that often their voices are concealed, when they attempt to focus on few core issues related to their community development, their rights etc.
“In a bid to safeguard the true essence of writing in a democratic nation, it is important that equal value is given to the female authors respecting their writing abilities, irrespective of their personal ideologies. Ironically, even in the 21st century, most of us feel that our hands are tied. As a result, we cannot freely expression our views,” added Tete.
Another eminent Kuduk language author, Shanti Khalkho blamed the changing scenario, effect of globalization and the government’s apathy for the failure to create a favorable environment for female writers.
Khalkho further added, “The level of equality that was prevalent earlier, especially among the ethnic group of writers has declined miserably. Today, the writers have to be extra vigilant, even if they are writing about some true incidents or on few major topics that influence the minority community most. Important issues like CNT-SPT, anti-conversion bill must be highlighted through writings but somewhere we all are scared.”