Author and columnist Sreemoyee Piu Kundu tells After Hrs about the origins of her new book, Status Single
I am a single woman who turned 40 in December and celebrated my birthday with all the grandeur that one usually associates with a wedding, friends and family, who lived outside Kolkata, said that they would attend next time — using terms like ‘real occasion,’ ‘happier time,’ ‘your big day,’ which was exactly the stereotype I wanted to break and celebrate the last 40 years of my own life — of surviving, of moving forward, of dealing with pain, loss, bad decisions, wrong men, lost career opportunities, health troubles, cities I lived in and left, friendships that are now extinct, like feelings, along with the joyous abandon of new things — traveling to roads I never knew could exist, fresh personal and professional associations, homes I built and broke out of, courage I have amassed over time, learning to pick myself up from the dust, chasing rainbows, and not rain clouds.
I think every single woman in India’s life is an amalgamation of struggle and survival — and that’s where I was clear that if I ever do write a book, it will be hard-hitting and real and inclusive of all types of women — including disabled and LGBTQ. I wasn’t hoping for a self-help book, or a motivational mission statement — claiming that ’40s are the new ’20s, which is plain bullshit! I was clear that I sought a no-holds barred telling of the lives of middle class working women, like me, which is why the book has interviews with 3000 urban single women largely in the age group of 30 to 45 and they are from all over India, mostly belonging to middle class families.
From me to a movement and hopefully policy changes, societal shifts and conversations and solidarity, is what I finally dream of Status Single, that’s out this month is therefore to me, a start.
I think the biggest challenge in being single and successful is the assumption that women are too arrogant, too outspoken, too choosey or too ambitious and the fact that everyone is patronising — just the other day my close college friend asked me politely, if I was lonely and how I managed?
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