Stories of Sanskaari women
Editor’s Note: We invited the Sanskari Girls Book Club—which focuses on South-Asian feminist reads—to recommend a list of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels. The result: A very awesome list.
About the Sanskari Girls Book Club: This is a space for curious learners to explore a range of readings from South Asia in a safe, supportive and diverse setting. They take an intersectional feminist approach to explore readings and are a space for those who are excited to challenge their biases, explore what feminism means in their lives and learn from others.
The book club was started in August 2019—and is housed under One Future Collective which is a feminist social purpose organisation with a vision of a world built on social justice, led by communities of care. Their mission is to spotlight South Asian feminist readings and their relevance to us and to create a community of readers who can explore and critically discuss fiction and non-fiction feminist texts.
Over to the Sanskaari Girls team!
If you’re looking for non-fiction…
The Feminist Killjoy Handbook by Sara Ahmed. We believe that to live a feminist life, being a “feminist killjoy” is critical. This term has been coined by the renowned Pakistani-British writer and scholar which means: someone who sees patriarchy, race and class as systems that exist and does not stand for them; someone who is uncomfortable with the harmful norms of society; and someone who speaks up against these systems, norms and their ideals. In Ahmed’s second book, she provides sharp and usable tools for readers using her own stories and those of others—to be a feminist killjoy. The reason why this is our favourite book is because of how accessible the prose is: funny, vulnerable and piercingly honest.
Period Matters by Farah Ahamed. This anthology deep dives into the diverse experiences of menstruation in South Asia. Menstruation is considered to be a taboo; that brings up shame and stigma—especially in countries in this region. We have thoroughly enjoyed how this book explores form in many ways—this book does not just contain essays—it also includes artwork, photo essays, stories and poems from policymakers, entrepreneurs, artists, academics, activists, and exclusive interviews with those at the margins, such as the homeless and those living with disabilities.
Our favoured picks: Granaz Baloch’s narration on tribal honour in Balochistan, Erum’s experience of getting your period when incarcerated, why and how transwomen mimic rituals of menstruation, menstrual literacy for children in India and a photo essay of ‘menstrala’, or art inspired by menstruation.
Fearless Freedom by Kavita Krishnan. We think one is a critically important read for any South Asian person—female, queer or otherwise. Krishnan is a renowned Indian feminist, Marxist, civil liberties activist and writer—who has explored themes of autonomy and freedom in this book. She challenges the dissonance between measures taken to protect women’s safety and how they end up curtaining their freedom. To elaborate, here is a quote from the author herself: “The conversation around the issue of women’s safety has till now been dominated by those least objective about it: custodians of the patriarchal, casteist, capitalist system, with vested interests in rationalising curbs on women’s freedoms. Is it not strange that we think women can’t be “objective” about their own freedoms?”
Cyber Sexy by Richa Kaul Padte. In this book, Padte takes readers through the intricacies and controversies in association to porn—which includes but is not limited to its definition, porn bans, religious morality on women's rights, tour of online sex cultures, camgirls, fanfiction writers, homemade videos and consent violations. The central investigation in this book begins with American judge Potter Stewart’s famous quote from 1964: “I can't define pornography, but I know it when I see it.”
If you prefer fiction…
Each of Us Killers by Jenny Bhatt. We love this short-read—of 135 pages—that explores the intersection of labour and emotional lives. The story follows the margins of class, caste, gender when it comes to the lives of auto-wallahs, domestic workers, street vendors, journalists, architects, bakers, engineers, saree shop employees, professors, yoga instructors, bartenders, and more. This unputdownable read will leave a mark on you forever.
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar. In this YA novel, two girls—Nishat and Flavia—explore the throes of young and budding queer romance. The catch: Nishat’s parents—do not let her be true to herself, and want her to pick between Muslim or lesbian, but how can she convince them that being both is being herself? Content warning: This book might make you cry your eyes out.
Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl’s Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom. Thom is a writer, performance artist, social worker and fierce trans femme. Her debut novel follows a young girl—who is a kung-fu expert and pathological liar—as she finds herself in a magical place. She is then adopted into a gang of glamorous warrior femmes—whose mission is to rid the place of violent men and avenge the murders of trans people. This pacy book takes you on a surrealist adventure—only leaving you wanting more.
How about some poetry?
How to Share the World: A Feminist Poetry Anthology by One Future Collective. We could not not recommend a book from our own library of resources. This is a feminist poetry anthology on the themes of joy and healing, feminist friendships, love and revolution, queer justice, and community. This is especially poetry beginners as this is super easy to understand and fun. We have included artwork and prompts to go along with the poems.
Bonus picks: We also cannot get enough of artsy graphic novels like Good Talk by Mira Jacob and Trust No Aunty by Maria Qamar. The former is a laugh-out-loud funny memoir while the latter is a humorous, illustrated “survival guide” to deal with overbearing Aunties.
