Kaleidoscope

About the Book

The Indian woman is deified, glorified and worshipped; she is also killed in the home, burnt for dowry, humiliated, tortured and raped. Despite all this hypocrisy and savagery, she has braved all circumstances and has shown her mettle. In the early days getting education was not easy for her—so many egos had to be satisfied, much knowledge surreptitiously garnered and she learnt the art of showing that she knew much less than she actually did. Though adjusting to all situations, she would be totally focused on her goal. She would also go to great lengths to protect her honour—no matter what her station in life would be. Now, she sees man being controlled and coerced by his family, yet she energizes and sustains him. Take any field of work-- right from train drivers to astronauts, to doctors to entrepreneurs, you will find her shining wherever she is. Like the humble grass the more she is flattened, the tougher and swifter she rises. The stories in this book deal with the multifaceted Indian woman and are dedicated to her. They span many ages and times, dealing with the complexity that is life.

About the Author

Padma Jha is a Ph.D (Eng.), B.Ed, PGDTE (Post Graduate Diploma in the Teaching of English). Her field of specialization is Working Class literature. A resource person for SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training) and DIET (District Institute of Education and Training), in her multifaceted roles she has also been a college and school teacher. Currently, she is running a school for children in Himachal Pradesh, India. Writing for her is as much a mode of expression as it is to record her poignant observations regarding life and people around her. She wishes her readers a happy reading experience with her book.