Journalist turned author Sreemoyee PiuKundu is single, successful and over
40. She is frequently questioned about her single status, which is something
most single women over the age of 30 will relate to. Hence it was important for
these women, who might be unmarried, divorced, abandoned, single mothers, women
with disabilities or from the LGBTQ community, to tell their stories. Sreemoyee
was all ears and so is the rest of India as her first non-fiction book, ‘Status
Single’, shares nearly 3,000 stories of the women of urban India.
After fiction books like ‘Farway Music’, ‘Sita’s Curse’, a
feminist erotica from India and ‘You’ve Got The Wrong Girl’, this is her first
foray into non-fiction. The book has been released in Kolkata, Delhi,
Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai. Her book will be launched in Goa on May 5, 2018
at Literati Bookshop, Calanguteat 7pm. Wendell Rodricks will be in conversation
with Sreemoyee and the panellists will include Shilpa Mehta, Director of
Paradise School and RJ Ayesha Barretto.
“The main reason for having the booklaunch in Goa is Wendell
Rodricks. When I started out as a fashion and lifestyle journalist, he was very
supportive.I recently met him at a book launch, and he told me to come to Goa
because there are a lot of single women who would relate to the book. I got in
touch with DivyaKapur of Literati, who is hosting the book release. Shilpa
Mehta, who is divorced, came down from London to Goa to find a new life. She is
a single mother and has opened Paradise School in Goa. RJ Ayesha, who is also a
biker and scuba diver, is single and lives life on her own terms,” says
Sreemoyee, explaining her choice of dignitaries.
Speaking about her book, she says, “Women were forthcoming with
their stories. I turned 40 last year and I came across the stereotyping that
happens in society – thearranged marriage market, missing the marriage age
bracket, being a professional and strong woman trying to find an equal match, etc.
My agent in Delhi told me that my column is doing so well and that many women
respond the same way to my writings and would love to share their experience.
That’s when I thought of writing the book. Honestly, I had ten single friends
to begin with but every person I spoke to got me in touch with ten more single
women. Single women make up 21 percent of the population, which is nearly 74
million Indians. The buzz on social media helped me connect to a lot more
women.”
She adds, “I was very particular about who should be featured in
the book. I didn’t want celebrities. I wanted diversity, single moms, women
with disabilities and those from the LGBTQ community. I wanted to include as
much as I can. I spoke to 3,000 women across India.”
However, there were few who still feared being judged by
society. “There were 35 women who backed out because of their relationships,
parents’ reactions and the personal and professionalrepercussions. But for
every one that dropped out, ten more were willing to break their silence. They
all wanted to tell their stories and only needed the right medium,” says
Sreemoyee. The book was covered in Los Angeles Times and The Guardian, London
as it featured single women in urban India. “I wanted to sharpen the search and
show that shaming is apparent in urban India. These are real women who are
working professionals and leading their lives in the cities of India.”
Sreemoyee worked on the research for the book for a year before
spending another six months on compiling the book with her narration. “I was a
journalist for 17 years and I would interview people and transcribe it for
their approval. I had 3,000 stories and my narrative. Writing non-fiction
requires a lot more research and weaving together of stories. These are
accurate incidents that took place in their lives and the book had to be true
to their stories. This is a medium through which their lives could change,” she
says.
Though the book was released at the beginning of March this
year, it has already been featured in the list of best selling books in India,
which has empowered the women who are linked to the book. “The women from those
cities often form the panel during the book release and they feel empowered
that the book has given them strength and respect from their families and
friends. Some women who didn’t want to reveal their identity and asked me to
change their names and now requesting me to include their real names when the
book goes into the second edition of print,” says Sreemoyee, gladly.
She
is now working on a play, ‘Cut’, by Bloomsbury Publishing,which will be written
in three languages – French, Marathi and English as well asher memoir,‘Bad
Blood’.