Right at the outset of the session titled 'Boldness in women writing' at Manorama Hortus in Kochi on Friday, three women writers expressed their reservations. They said they don't conform to the notion of women writing and they had their reasons.

"I have been told that my writing broke conventions. Honestly, when I started writing, I had no clue about the complex thoughts of feminism. I wrote what came to my mind," said noted Malayalam writer S Sithara. She was, however, conscious about one aspect. "There was an intentional choice about subjects related to how women pulled through circumstances," she said.

Perhaps she realised the volcanic impact of her works only when she faced the male fury. She cited an example. "My story 'Agni' was about a woman subjected to gang rape. It is how she reacts to the horrific incident. I received threats of rape, I was vilified because of that story," Sithara recalled.

This is why she said that stories need not be handbooks. "We tell stories about people who find themselves in a situation. It shall not be construed as a guideline or handbook for something," Sithara said.

E K Shahina recounted a personal experience. At a release event of her collection of stories, she had to sit through a parade of speeches by male speakers who ranted about women writing on body and sexuality. "Honestly, there was just one story in that whole collection which dealt with women. Still they went on and on about it. This happened because of the assumption that women can only write about certain subjects," said Shahina.

It need not even be personal, she said. "There is a tendency to pigeon-hole writing, like Dalit writing, women writing. Basically, we write about humans, the conflicts between those who have power and those who don't. Ostracisation is the basis of compartmentalisation. Once this is done away with, there won't be any categories at all," said Shahina.

Thomas Scaria, who moderated the session, was confused. "We kept saying there was only one type of writing and then you people advocated for women's writing. Now you say it is about humans. How do you explain that?

"Aren't women humans?" Sithara was quick to respond. "There is no distinction. It is just an organic presentation of ideas and emotions," she said.

Shahina broadened the conversation to the definition of liberty. "We live in a society where women normalise statements like they are being given enough freedom by men. The Constitution already guarantees freedom to everyone. I don't think anyone has taken subcontract to lease freedom," said Shahina.

She quoted works of Lalithambika Antharjanam to point out how her works reflected conflicts within households. "Times have changed. Depression, love, body and sex are not the only subjects women write about," she said.

Malayalam novelist Latha Lekshmi also seconded this. "Writing is focused on subjects. The beauty of language is also determined by the choice of subjects. My boldness is not defined by my writing. I have always been a bold woman," she said.