Aval Ival Uval

About the book

She who stands far away (Aval), she who stands close by (Ival), and she who stands before us (Uval). Like Uval, a word now forgotten in Tamil, certain facets of women’s lives have been left aside, and these are what this book seeks to address. In an oppressive, hierarchical society, even when women achieve upward mobility (with many ifs and buts), the privileges granted to men are often denied to them. In the Indian system, this oppression cannot be described as a single experience, because hierarchies intersect to compound it. The leadership women achieve has the potential to bring relief to an entire society; conversely, a woman’s lack of freedom keeps the whole social structure in a state of tension. The stories are set against diverse backdrops, from feudal settings to corporate environments, and all are united by a central thread of women’s liberation. Their diversity grew out of three years of extensive discussion among four women. The stories portray women caught within the system: those who slip away silently when an opportunity arises and return after a brief breath of freedom, and those who challenge authority head-on and leave without submitting. In the stark light of the truths these narratives reveal, society’s false values stand exposed. The stories lay bare the invisible chains used to confine women and urge them to find the strength to break free.

About the author