“Gandhi Aur Sarala devi Chaudhrani :Barah Adhyay,”: with Novelist Alka Saravagi

The Bhawanipur Education Society College played host to a literary event that left attendees enraptured. The event featured a conversation with Mrs. Alka Saravagi, an acclaimed Indian novelist and short story writer in the Hindi language. Ms.Saravagi is the proud recipient of the prestigious 2001 Sahitya Akademi Award for Hindi for her novel, Kalikatha: Via Bypass. The event, which was held in the College Library, kicked off with a warm welcome from Prof. Dilip Shah, the Dean of Student Affairs. He set the tone for the session with his introductory speech, which touched upon the achievements of Ms. Saravagi and the importance of literature in our lives.

Ms. Saravagi’s illustrious career was further celebrated when she was felicitated with a memento by Dr. Vasundhara Mishra and the Head of the Hindi Department, Ms. Kavita Malhotra. The atmosphere was electric as the audience eagerly awaited Mrs. Saraogi’s insights into Gandhi & Sarla Devi. Ms. Saravagi’s conversation was enlightening as she shared her experiences and perspectives on writing and literature. Her profound knowledge of the Hindi language and its nuances was evident as she spoke passionately about her craft. The audience was fully captivated as she shared anecdotes from her life and her writing process. She began writing in 1990, and her books were finally published in 1996.

During her presentation, she shared fascinating chronicles from her life and writing process and captivated the audience’s attention. One topic that she discussed was her book, ‘Gandhi Aur Sarala Devi Chaudhrani : Barah Adhyayi,’ which explores the complex relationship between M.K. Gandhi and Sarala Devi Chaudhurani during the Indian national movement. The author’s book sheds light on this complicated relationship and provides a unique perspective on the Indian National movement. According to the author, Gandhi supported Sarala Devi due to her extensive knowledge, and the two exchanged around 80 letters which were later compiled in a book titled “The Lost Letters.” However, the reality of their relationship was much more complicated than what was previously believed, these letters offer a glimpse into the complex relationship between the two historical figures.

During the question-and-answer session that followed the author’s presentation, a few students, including Namrata, Ravi, and Kashish, asked several thought-provoking questions to Mrs. Alka Saraogi. They asked about her experiences as a woman writer, the gender-based difficulties she faced, and her suggestions for young women writers. The students also inquired about how her identity as a woman affected the characters in her novels. Another student asked about Gandhi’s perspective on love and whether his authoritative approach was necessary. The author provided ideal answers to all the questions, giving the audience valuable information about her personal experiences and the research that went into her book. She shared how criticism had affected her and how she faced gender-based difficulties as a woman writer. She also talked about the importance of a love-based approach and how it can set people free, rather than an authoritative one.

The event ended on a positive note, with Prof. Shah thanking Mrs. Alka Saravagii for sharing her thoughts and experiences with the audience. The author’s presentation and the subsequent question and answer session left a lasting impression on the attendees and highlighted the importance of exploring complex relationships and identities through literature and the depth of research that goes into writing a piece of literature.

Reporter –
Ruchika Sachdev