Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women's Studies hosts symposium on women and writing at JMI

The Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies (SNCWS), Jamia Millia Islamia, in collaboration with The Book Review Literary Trust successfully organised a one-day national symposium on “Writing, Reviewing, Translating: Women, Words, and Worlds” on February 17 at Mir Anis Hall, JMI.

Chandra Chari, Founder Editor of The Book Review Literary Trust addressed the gathering about the origins and objectives of The Book Review journal and its sustained commitment to fostering critical literary culture in India. She underscored the importance of book reviewing as a vital intellectual practice and emphasised the role of women in shaping contemporary literary discourse.

The first session, titled “Reviewing, Writing, Publishing Women – A Critical Exploration of Gendered Literary Landscapes,” was moderated by Dr. Aakriti Mandhwani. The panel featured Dr. Semeen Ali, Rachna Kalra, Dr. Malvika Maheshwari, Dr. Sucharita Sengupta, and Dr. Kanupriya Dhingra. The speakers reflected on questions of identity and authorship, editorial gatekeeping, the politics of literary knowledge, and the sustainability of women’s writing in South Asia. Discussions highlighted the need to move beyond reductive categorisations of “women’s writing,” to encourage mentorship and alternative platforms, and to view reviewing as both scholarship and resistance.

A session “Writing the City,” moderated by Dr Faiz Ullah, explored literary engagements with urban spaces, particularly Delhi. Speakers Ananya Vajpeyi, Ekta Chauhan, and Aishwarya Jha reflected on the city as a site of memory, transformation, and affect. The discussion examined urban villages, shifting cityscapes, nostalgia, and the interplay between lived experience and literary imagination.

It was followed by a session titled “Writing/Translating Women,” which was moderated by Dr. Amina Hussain, Assistant Professor, SNCWS. The panel included renowned Hindi author Mridula Garg, noted translator Prof. Arjumand Ara, Dr. Deeba Zafir, and Dr. Firdous Azmat Siddiqui. The speakers addressed the epistemic marginalisation of women’s writing, the complexities of translation, intersectional concerns of caste and class, and representations of Muslim women in literature and history. The session emphasised that writing must provoke critical reflection, that translation demands ethical responsibility, and that marginal voices must be represented with nuance and sensitivity.

The symposium reaffirmed Jamia Millia Islamia’s commitment to fostering inclusive and critical academic spaces that foreground women’s voices in literature, scholarship, and translation, and to promoting dialogue that bridges disciplines and communities.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”