Swetcha

by Volga

Telugu feminist short stories by Volga.

Written in everyday Telugu, these stories are reflective of a writer heavily influenced by Communist ideals who portrays the struggles of middle-class women against the high-handed patriarchy of Telugu culture.

Genres: India, Fiction, Feminism

About the author

Popuri Lalita Kumari, popularly known by her pen name Volga, is Telugu poet and writer well known for her feminist perspective. She was born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. She won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2015 for her short story compilation 'Vimukta Kadha Samputi' in Telugu. Along with being a writer, she has also been a professor and head of scripting division in Tollywood. Her work initiated debates across the country about feminism, in times when the idea was hardly accepted. The Library of Congress has a collection of her most popular published works, including the English translations of selected short stories.

Reviews

[Aditya Annavajjhala · Rating 5 out of 5]

ఈ మధ్య olympics లో పతకం సాధించినా ఒక క్రీడాకారిణిని సినిమా పెద్దలు పిలిచి సత్కరించారు..!! కానీ వార్తలో గాని, Social media లోగాని తన విజయాలు మీద కాకుండా కేవలం ఆ కార్యక్రమంలో తాను వేసుకున్న బట్టల గురించి, అ బట్టలు వల్ల దేశంకి జరుగుతున్న సంప్రదాయ అణిచివేత గురించి చర్చ జరిగింది...!!

75 ఏళ్ల స్వాంత్ర దేశంలో స్త్రీ బట్టలు, వాళ్ల వేషధారణ గురించి చర్చలు జరగడం చాలా బాధాకరం.. ఇప్పటికి కూడా స్త్రీకి స్వేచ్ఛ లేదా..?? తనకి నచ్చిన పని, నచ్చని అభిప్రాయం చెప్పే స్వాతంత్రం కూడా లేదా..??

అసలు ఇంతకీ స్వేచ్ఛ అంటే ఏంటి..?? కేవలం చిన్న పంజరం నుంచి మరింత పెద్ద పంజరంలోకి మారడం అంతేనా?? లేదా వేరే ఏదైనా ఉందా..??

ఈ ప్రశ్నలకి సమాధానం వోల్గా గారు రాసిన "స్వేచ్ఛ" పుస్తకం ద్వారా సమాధానం తెలుసుకోవచ్చు..!!

అరుణ, చిన్నతనం నుంచి తన ఆలోచనలను సంప్రదాయం అనే పేరుతో అణచాలి అని చూసే కుటుంబంలో పెరుగుతూ వచ్చింది..!! తాను ఈ సంకెళ్ళ నుంచి బయటకి పడటానికి కేవలం పెళ్లి చేసుకోవడం వల్ల మాత్రమే అవుతుంది అని అనుకోని ప్రకాశం ని ప్రేమించి పెళ్లి చేసుకుంటుంది..!!
తనకి కావలసినది కేవలం ఆర్థిక స్వాతంత్రం అనుకోని ఉద్యోగం కూడా చేస్తుంది..!!
కానీ పెళ్లి తర్వాత తెలుస్తుంది.. తనని పెంచిన కుటుంబం పెట్టిన ఆంక్షలు అన్నీ తన భర్తయిన ప్రకాశం కూడా పెడుతున్నాడు అని, పెళ్లి తర్వాత కూడా తన తాను అనుకున్న స్వేచ్ఛ లేదు అని..!! అసలు అరుణ అలా అనుకోవడానికి కారణాలు ఏంటి..?? నిజంగా ప్రకాశం అంత చెడ్డవాడా?? చివరికి తాను స్వేచ్ఛ ఎలా పొందింది..!!? అనేది అసలు కథ..

ఈ కథ ద్వారా కేవలం స్త్రీ స్వచ్ఛ గురించి మాత్రమే కాకుండా ఉద్యోగాల్లో ఆడవాళ్లు ఎదురుకొనే సవాళ్లు, పారిశ్రామిక రంగానికి స్త్రీల పట్ల జరిగే అన్యాయం, మెహందీ స్త్రీలపై జరుగుతున్న దౌర్జన్యం గురించి కూడా పరిచయం చేసారు ఓల్గా గారు..!!

ఈ కథ ద్వారా అవాస్తవ పరిష్కారాలు కాకుండా ఇంత వరకు వ్యక్తిగతం అనుకుంటున్నా విషయాలని సాంఘిక విషయలుగా నిరూపించి, వాటి పరిష్కారం కోసం వెతకమని మనకి చెప్పడం ముఖ్యమని ముందుమాటలో చెప్పారు..!! ఆ విషయంలో ఓల్గాగారు విజయం సాధించారు అనే చెప్పాలి..!!

ఈ పుస్తకం ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ.. మరీ ముఖ్యంగా కొత్తగా పెళ్లైన వాళ్ళు తప్పకుండా చదవాల్సిన పుస్తకం ఇది..!!

[Konika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a translated version titled "A Quest For Freedom", the novel raises questions over the generally overlooked issues which hold back an Indian woman, the society and both its educated and the uneducated masses jump in to "protect" woman, to be her saviour. What I found disturbing was Aruna's analyses that it is marriage which should be done away with in order to gain fredom, I feel it's the patriarch rather than man as an individual which prohibits the development and the freedom of a woman.

[Laya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Planned to read the book over a week but couldn't put it down at at all. There are many wonderful themes explored in this short novel like female solidarity, freedom, male ego etc etc - all weaved together in the journey of Aruna. Absolutely loved reading this.

[Akhila Pydah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the English translation of this book published by NBT, called 'A Quest for Freedom'. I think this is the first feminist novel I've read and am completely blown away by it! So much packed in a deceptively short read. Though not everyone who has/will read it might have experienced the situations described in the novel, it is difficult for me to believe that some subtle versions won't be familiar to most of us, even 30 years after the original Telugu story came out in Chatura magazine.

For me, the most significant aspect of the novel was that the protagonist's thoughts and responses are not shown from a black-and-white perspective that I had wrongly feared from an in-your-face feminist novel. I was half-expecting that she will be portrayed as a woman who just knows the 'correct' thing to do (in terms of identifying and asserting her rights) and does so without worrying even a bit about the consequences. In fact, the character was richly layered and her responses so real and nuanced: Deep inner struggles as she wonders if some of those battles are worth waging at all - isn't it better to opt for conjugal peace just once in a while? Acute pain as she uncovers patriarchy in most unexpected of circles. How she negotiates with the feeling of being stuck with no way out. This characterization struck a chord with me, and I found myself feeling deep empathy for her - crying, feeling frustrated, angry and hopeless with her.

Another endearing part about the book that demonstrates the maturity of the author, like the previous aspect, is that there's also great support from some unexpected quarters - people one has traditionally seen portrayed as being against the female protagonist in several other media.

In all, I LOVED the book, it will raise several questions and as you're reading it, you're bound to have discussions with your family members, friends and colleagues on the issues and responses of the protagonist. I'm eagerly waiting to read more of her work. Only one regret: I would have loved to access her work in Telugu - the language she originally writes them in!

[Shelley Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This probably would have been 5 stars if I had read it in the original Telugu, but the English translation was quite poorly edited.*

This is a smart, thought-provoking read that must have been far ahead of its time when it was originally published in 1987! Sweccha follows Aruna in her search for the meaning of “freedom” as she leaves her repressive family home and eventually reevaluates the freedom she thought she had gained through her marriage. Volga explores a myriad of feminist issues that we’re still discussing 30 years later including gender roles within marriages, consent, the tokenism of women in male-dominated work spaces, and the responsibilities that more privileged women have toward listening to/uplifting women who’re less fortunate.

Volga’s writing is clean and straight-forward. The mundane and routine moments in Aruna’s home life (which readers in even the most harmonious and mutually respectful partnerships will relate to!) are the places in which the dramas of this story unfold in very real ways.

My favorite component of this book is Aruna’s friendship with Uma! Uma’s very different path in life after college serves as a clever point of comparison through which Aruna’s can be better understood. I loved the way their conversations and letters punctuated the story.

Ari Sitaramayya’s translation is nice, but it is a shame that the book wasn’t properly edited or formatted more clearly. This was a bit distracting, but I was still able to thoroughly enjoy this book!

[Aki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only crime of a woman is apparently wanting freedom to live 'her' life in the way that 'she wants' to. How dare she put herself first. How dare she think for herself. Anyways.

Aruna's journey with her ideologies, her values, her wants, and her meaning of freedom as a woman was brought to life with such wonderful writing that I couldn't stop reading once started. And I felt all of it .
It reads like a modern day novel and does not feel like it was conceptualized in the 1980s (are we surprised?). Definitely a must read. I am now a big fan of Volga garu (better late than never).

[Padmashini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in tamil 'sujatha'. This book describes how women sacrifice themselves for their family and how they burn their personal interest after marriage.

Volka describes the life of four friends after 5 yrs of marriage and how one of them tries to help other three to establish their own skills..amidst the male dominance, how society reacts to women, and also describes the need to change their mindset.

[Sritanikella3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

స్వేచ్ఛ - వోల్గా .
౩౦ సంవత్సరాల క్రితం రాసిన పుస్తకం అప్పటి ఆడవాళ్ళ పరిస్థితులని తెలుపుతుంది. ఇపుడు కొంచం మారినట్టే వుంది. స్వేచ్ఛ కి కొత్త అర్థాలను వెతుకుతున్నారు దానిని అందుకోవడానికి ప్రయత్నిస్తున్నారు.
అరుణకు ఎలాంటి స్వేఛ్చా కావాలి అనే ఘర్షణ దాంట్లో ఆమె తెలుసుకున్న విషయాలు ఇప్పటికి కొందరికి అర్థం కాకపోవచ్చు కానీ కొన్నాళ్ల తరువాత అయినా అర్థం అవుతుంది అనుకుంటున్నాను.

[Shannu Prasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read not just for women and girls but for anyone that felt their circumstances limited their freedom.

A non-dogmatic book with complex characters. Sometimes it gets didactic, but I feel it's forgivable

[Krishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

1980's lo strilu konchem konchem udhyogalalo vastunna samayam loni kadha idi. tanaku normal ane decisions valla husband wife svecha ni ela vullanghistado ani chuputundi. okallu manchi okallu chedu ani cheppakunda okari valla marokaru ela badha padataro cheputundi.

[Surbhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished the English version. Quick read. Gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling, despite addressing serious issues. I love getting lost in worlds of women's lives no matter how difficult their journeys tend to be. Highly recommend this book.

[Man Pri]

Hard hitting novel on feminism..

[Mehak]

I read the Hindi translation of the book. The protagonist is educated, has a family including a husband who claims to love her. From the ivory tower, her life seems much better than those women who never received love and have to deal with brutal coercion at the hands of their husbands or male guardians. This is a story where love is a prize for compliance. Never have I come across such writing that brings coercion to the fore in such a manner. Her husband's love for her and her quest for freedom make her question and seek the true meaning of both in her life. She questions her relationship with her husband, sometimes wards off the doubts...the protagonist often finds herself in the dilemma. First written in the late 80s, this is complex and contemporary.