Santosh, an author dedicated to bringing into awareness the social crimes and injustice in India, has teamed with Kundan Srivastava & Raghunath Babu Are in Title is Untitled. The authors have come up with 11 short fictions in the book that highlight how women in India become victims of rape and forced marriages. The stories also speak of how some women unlawfully misuse women-centric laws like dowry laws in their favour. Yet, other stories, on a lighter side, underline how shallow Indian education system is and ironically, how deep the Indian Beggary system is.
Written with utmost sincerity, the book is sure to churn your feelings towards such victims. At the end of each story, through the Dear 'No Light' Diary, the authors present brief facts about the issue related to the particular story. I appreciate their thoughtful efforts in collecting the data.
As I always recommend, please try to imbibe the authors' messages from this book and spread them as far as you can.
Unfortunately, it is easy to locate injustice not only in our country but also in our homes. Until a few years ago and in fact even today in several rural areas, it is common to find girls being married at very early ages. Some are being married forcefully to older men and most are being deprived of their right to education. The first chapter of Title is Untitled narrates one such story of injustice. Kamali is raped for seven days by her maternal uncle, with the consent of her parents, since she is unwilling to get married to him after the death of his first wife. Just because, it happens within a family, in no way can such brutal acts be justified. Women who become victims of such domestic violence have no way of escape. For centuries, this has been happening and it's time for us to stand up against such crude systems of male dominance.
The next story is that of Sahana who is subjected to domestic violence by her drunkard husband. The authors state that 21% of women under the age of 15 face such violence from their husbands. Again, crimes within the family walls most often get silenced.
It shouldn't be ignored that in some cases, men in India also become victims of false accusations. Women, like the character Maya in the story 'Ek tha Kapoor', file false cases against their spouses for impotency and dowry harassment, in order to accrue a big part of their wealth. This story is a warning to such men to remain safe from greedy women.
'Azad Bharath' is a one of a kind story that describes social discrimination during 1957. It seemed a disaster to learn that there are 30 million cases pending across the country. That means there are n number of innocents living in prisons, waiting for their verdicts to arrive at the courts. In the story, 'Sperman', Maya, the wife of an impotent man is traded by her in-laws in order to maintain their family dignity. Ganga in 'She is Human - Yellow House' is pitifully forced into prostitution.
Through the stories, the authors reiterate the agonies of rape in India. And they insist the readers to, first of all, stop marital rape at our homes which can go a long way in curbing rape and women trafficking in the country.
Disclaimer: The authors of the book recommend parental guidance or follow country law for children to pick or read this book.
Reviewed for the Author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the Author in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Special thanks to Author Santosh for the signed copy of the book.
Title: Title is Untitled: First Night, No Light
Authors: Santosh Avvannavar, Kundan Srivastava & Raghunath Babu Are
Publisher: Hoffen Publishers
Pages: 142
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About the Book
Love.
Lust.
Desire.
Rape.
Anger.
Education.
Profession. Maladies of life? 'Title is Untitled' helps us into a sneak peek at a unique combination of facts and fiction. Three authors join their heads to weave a book that would hold fact high along with fiction. You knew the statistics, but you didn't know the paths that lead to the situations we are facing these days. Coupled with adequate dose of humour, Title is Untitled will enhance, enrich and enlighten your knowledge. Come, join hands with us in spreading knowledge and awareness about issues that are plaguing our society now.
About the Authors
Santosh Avvannavar: Santosh started his career as a consultant and Soft Skills Trainer. After his college education from NITK, Surathkal, he worked as a researcher at University of Eindhoven, University of Twente, and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He was also the Placement President while working at IISC, Bangalore. He has over twenty-five publications of mostly research documents in national and international journals. He has also authored sixteen conference papers and regularly writes articles for a national and worldwide daily paper. He also works as an advisor for different organizations.
He also dabbles in fiction writing and is the author of Adhuri Prem Kahaniya; Dear Wife, Your Husband is not a Superhero, Second Heart and Get a Job WITHOUT an Interview; Be A B.A.; Surrogate Author.
He likes to devote his personal time in writing for a website, namely the Amrita Foundation for HRD (www.amritafoundation.wordpress.com). He has conducted seminars and training sessions for more than 40,000 people in India and abroad over the last seven years.
Kundan Srivastava: Kundan is an engineer by education, Founder of Be In Humanity Foundation, Social Activist, RTI Activist, Columnist, Universal Humanity Awarded (2013), Bihar Pithadhish Purushkaar Awarded (2012). He was born in Raxual, Bihar and is one of Youngest Social Activist from Bihar. Kundan is a Technical Graduate (B-Tech) from Dehradun Institute of Technology, Dehradun and the Top Achievers announced by College Management. He is well known for his role in Social Activist working for humanity cause and crime against Women, RTI Activist and his efforts to bring and awareness the Right to Information (RTI) act. From July 2013, he is a Member of political party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Raghunath Babu Are: B.E., M.Tech (IISc, Bangalore), Sr. Software Engg, over 5+ year of experience as a Software Engineer at Yahoo! and Microsoft India. An alumnus of IISc, Bangalore.
Cover page designer
Mohit Goel: He has done his Master of Design from IIT Delhi, after graduating from DIT Dehradun,which equips him appropriately to both design and develop solutions using technology. He spent his last semester in Sweden as an exchange student. He ardently believes that communication of ideas and information around issues can be circumnavigated using cartooning. He served as cartoonist for 4 years at DIT, Dehradun editorial board. He also did illustrations for national bestseller novel, 'Nothing for you my dear' by Arpit Dugar. Popularly known as Mogo, he looks forward positively to contribute to dreams of Be in Humanity foundation and for this incredible novel.
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