Bandilanka's Forgotten Lives
5/5
()
About this ebook
Bandilanka, a fictional village in Southern India, represents many such ones across the Indian subcontinent, still caught up in the age-old customs, and superstitions that are destructive at times. The characters in this collection have each faced some form of injustice or loss.
‘A cleaning woman’s tale’ and ‘Vegetable vendor Sundari’ exemplify sex-discrimination in the village. ‘Widowhood across generations’ describes the fate of widows from all castes, classes, and age groups. ‘The matter of trans lives’ and ‘Tradition’s stranglehold’ show how despite a 2014 law formally recognizing the existence of a third gender, Hijras continue to face hate and persecution, as does the entire LGBTQ+ community.
Bigotry raises its ugly head in ‘Night soil removers Kaavanna and Kondamma,’ but is condemned in an interesting reversal of fate. ‘A washerman’s dream’ is the poignant story of a washerman who with his dying breath thanks a loving family for giving him the strength to stand up to a lifetime of rejection because of his perceived low caste.
The stories highlight the inherent worth and dignity of the lives of these disenfranchised groups thus challenging socially constructed divides and inequalities of caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and age.
Kamakshi Pappu Murti
Kamakshi Pappu Murti is a retired professor of German Studies. She has authored fictional and non-fictional writing. Fiction includes children’s books and murder mysteries. Her scholarly writing is devoted to multi-cultural issues, as well as gender studies.Fiction: Murti’s first children’s book LALLI’S WINDOW was published in 2017 by Austin Macauley, and her first murder mystery MURDERS MOST MATRONLY came out in 2017 as an e-book by Juggernaut Books in India. MURDERS IN THE IVORY TOWER is in the process of being published by Pegasus in Great Britain.Non-fiction: Scholarly monographs include “Die Reinkarnation des Lesers als Autor: Ein rezeptionsgeschichtlicher Versuch über den Einfluß der altindischen Literatur auf deutsche Schriftsteller” (de Gruyter, 1990) “India: The Seductive and Seduced ‘Other’ of German Orientalism” (Praeger, 2000) and “To Veil or not to Veil: Europe’s Shape-shifting ‘Other’” (Peter Lang, 2012).Murti is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), Modern Language Association (MLA), American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), and the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE).Murti is presently working on a series about two teens, Yasemin and Nirmala (“Yasemin and Nirmala: A Tale of Two Teens”) who navigate peer pressure, social media, and their physical disabilities (Yasemin loses an arm in an accident. Nirmala suffers from ALS).Social media:Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/kamakshi.murti)Twitter (@KamakshiPMurti)Instagram (Kamakshi@Kamakshimurti.com)YouTube (Kamakshi Murti)
Related to Bandilanka's Forgotten Lives
Related ebooks
Who killed Che Guevara Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCurse of Suspicion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAshvamedha Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn Insanity For Fame Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHorns of a Dilemma Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLove in the Rain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One Day, Life Will Change: A story of love and inspiration to win life when it hits you hard . . . Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5CHILDREN'S BEDTIME STORIES: A collection of short stories for children Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJanatta’S Cry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Gate to Paradise: A True Experience... Made Sarah Touched the Gate to Paradise Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Boy Who Flew and Other Tales of India for Children Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Restless Wind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInsanely Indian: A Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScience and Magic: The Search Begins Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Boy With The Patang Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gin Drinkers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Conch Bearer: The Brotherhood of the Conch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Walked Away with My Soul: Love. Separation. Endurance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Collar and the Bracelet: An Egyptian Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe House of Mama Orprah Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Sinful Silence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Amberwood Estates: the Seniors’ Diaries: Predicting a Brighter Future for the Elderly Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeyond Thoughts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCostume of the Dead and Other Stories: Stories from South India Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrossroads Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDinner with the Dead: A Ghost Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWays to Lucena Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTears of Kashmir: A saga of Six Murders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Married Woman: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Dowry Bride Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Romance For You
November 9: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Before We Were Strangers: A Love Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Something Borrowed: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It Starts with Us: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Chased by Moonlight Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hopeless Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ugly Love: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heart Bones: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Your Perfects: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Favorite Half-Night Stand Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Confess: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Roomies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Without Merit: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buzz Books 2023: Spring/Summer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dating You / Hating You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe Not: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wuthering Heights Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Stone Heart Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Swear on This Life: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Under the Roses Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finding Perfect: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe Now: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Erotic Fantasies Anthology Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Him: Him, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Second Glance: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Kingdom of Dreams Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tess of the d'Urbervilles Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Home: the most moving and heartfelt novel you'll read this year Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Seven Sisters: Book One Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Bandilanka's Forgotten Lives
1 rating1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book reminded me of RK Narayan's Malgudi Days . The same simplicity of language, powers of observation, surprise element and ability to see the details in ordinary and downtrodden lives. Kamakshi 's empathy with the poor , and the different is remarkable. This book is well wortk a read.. From Adity Dua