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From focus of rights of single women, we went on to women’s shelter. Does shelter only refer to the definition of shelter such as father’s house, family homes and ancestral homes for a woman? We focused on women emerged out of dicult situations & challenged traditional ideas of home in their lives, in order to bring out a change in the attitudes.

This notebook came as a response to the introduction of the 73rd Constitutional amendment, reserving one-third seats for women. It was a sudden rush of women to the political arenas. It was a reach out to the women’s movement as well with women claiming their spaces in political participation..

India’s Family planning programme which was introduced to check fertility rates and control women’s reproductive rights was a major patriarchal control on women everywhere. We have been campaigning against such contraceptives such as Depo-Provera, Net-en used to control women’s choices.

From being aware of oneself, being conscious of ones bodies are also a right of every woman. The subject of woman’s autonomy & knowledge over their bodies was put forward in this notebook, from adolescence, sexuality, pregnancy, childbirth. For so long, we have been taught to control it, but not anymore.

From talking of violence faced by women in marriages in the name of dowry, domestic violence, sexual violence in public places we moved on to rights of single women in this year’s notebook. What happens to a woman deciding to live outside the institution of marriage?

The theme for this year became the festival of words- a celebration of empowerment of women through literacy and knowledge for women. It was a wake up call to women everywhere to realize the power of words, of writing, as a way to express anger and love, power and loss, acceptance and questioning. The notebook was shaped not only by the creator but also by the owner

It was like coming out to the ‘angan’ or courtyard in front of the house, to greet all who were present there. This represented a major shift that was happening during this period, as the women’s movement was taking shape, more women were coming out on streets proudly asserting their common identity as women; they were also responding to rising communal tension around them. It became a collective space for women of dierent identities, geographical areas and constituencies to come together in solidarity and celebration.

The second notebook moved one step further in giving women a space to talk, dialogue, share their views, experiences, deepest desires and celebrate the joy of friendship and mutual understanding among diversity. The writings were meant to inspire one to be free. It was made with combined eorts of the community health programme, Action India was one of the partners who participated in the creation of this notebook.

The first notebook was brought out in the year 1988. It was an initial attempt to bring about a space for women to express and articulate themselves freely. A notebook may not be the complete solution, but it became a space to put down innermost feelings, thoughts, and breaking the barriers, silences for each one of us. It explored meaningful relationship with oneself.The first notebook was brought out in the year 1988. It was an initial attempt to bring about a space for women to express and articulate themselves freely. A notebook may not be the complete solution, but it became a space to put down innermost feelings, thoughts, and breaking the barriers, silences …for each one of us. It explored meaningful relationship with oneself.