Asking the writers for solutions to problems, that too solutions which
are perfect and fool-proof, or even looking for such solutions in books
is unwise. KoKu advised long ago not to look in books for such solutions.
Leaving that aside, it is not easy to find solutions to what are considered
as personal problems but which are actually issues related to reproductive
rights of women. A writer can create a character which was able to
intelligently and effectively solve her problems. However, that doesn't
mean that the methods used by that character would be equally well
applicable or useful to other women. For a person dedicated to writing
about liberty, sexuality and reproductive rights of women, the responsibility
lies not in finding solutions to problems of individual women, but in
demonstrating that these issues are not personal and in proving to the
society that these issues need to be considered as societal problems that
need society-wide resolutions. The strengths and successes of feminist
writers will be measured by how well they do this job.
A part of my effort in this direction is the novel "Swescha."
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Sitaramayya Ari.