‘Seeking solution to patriarchy within traditions’

At the 37th edition of Bibek Gosti, a monthly literary discourse hosted by Naad Pragas, Akwinder Kaur, a researcher from PU, presented a research paper on the book, ‘In the Beginning is Desire’ by Indian-American thinker Neela Bhattacharya Saxena.

She said the book is a work born from the combination of literature and literary thought, in which thinkers present a study of the concept of desire in relation to Maa Kali, her role in the Indian culture and the author’s own upbringing.

“Making human desire the main focus of thought, the book explores the causes of patriarchy aqnd offers solution by connecting the goddess-image established in the Indian woman’s unconscious with the philosophical and mystical imagery of Kali,” she said.

Akvinder says Indian women must seek solution to patriarchy through the prism of traditional Indian philosophies, where Indian goddesses emerge as shining examples of duality and feminist ideology. Amandeep Singh, Director, Nad Pragas, said contemporary academic thinking was not possible without incorporating Indian traditions.