The reddish maroon sari, her silky grey hair and the quavering voice lends that unpretentious look to her exuding confidence. When she opens her mouth, she speaks her heart out much like the characters in her fiction. And, that is what sets her apart.
Popular under the pseudonym Ambai, C.S.Lakshmi is a distinguished fiction writer in Tamil. Her works are characterized by a passionate siding with the cause for women and humour. Her profound style is in touch with reality. She is the only Tamil writer to have been included in the recently published Picador Book of Modern Indian Literature edited by Amit Chaudhuri. She is also the founder-trustee and director of SPARROW (Sound and Picture Archives for Research on Women).
Real-life representations
During a brief chat, Ambai, inadvertently, begins by narrating how she has always challenged the tailored norms laid down by the society for women. “Why people are stereotyping women and how women have been written and treated in literature and in real life?” she questions.
She says that she presents real-life situations and feminist experiences as such. “My characters think not only out-of-the-box but also question the prevailing systems,” she asserts.
“What is to be a good woman is something defined and pre-planned. Drawing a kolam, cooking and keeping the husband in good humour defines an ideal woman and this is questioned by my characters,” she explains
“But challenging the benchmark in literature is not an easy task for women who are part of the society,” she notes and adds that how she faced bevy of criticism as her works challenged the established norms of womanhood.
Her stories are about relationships and the radiant characters present contemporary life. She also explores space, silence, and boldly presents the need for women to come to terms with one's body or sexuality.
Though there were many women writers in 40s and 50s, who dealt with themes such as love and inter-caste marriage, Ambai says they never spoke about bodily functions of a woman. The concept of delineating the physical body was considered obtuse and love in its platonic form excluded physicality. “Feminist ideas were accepted to a certain extent but beyond, the society always revolted,” she adds.
Speaking about the disadvantages of women writers who touch upon out-of- the-box themes, Ambai feels their stories suffer due to editing. Many would not be ready to publish the story and if at all they want to publish they would chop off the radical message and ideas. “I write what I want to write and not what others want. I prefer publications that do not tamper with my writings,” she says.
“But now situations have changed with technology. We have lot of new writers and publishers. If even if one does not find a publisher, he or she can pen their thoughts on blogs and even twitter. After all, the writer's thought should reach the readers,” she says.
Concern for regional writers
She expressed her concern on how regional writers are relegated as they are unable to reach a wider readership. Sometimes, Tamil writers feel that they are promoted to next level when their works get translated into English. But whether it regional or universal language, any literary work is for the world and if people do not read the work it is their problem and not the writer's,” she adds.
Ambai does not feel happy when identified as a woman writer. “Everything written by women is termed as women issues as if men do not have issues at all. The society fails to gauge the writing in broader perspectives,” she signs off.
This Doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University is also a recipient of Narayanaswamy Aiyar Prize for her fiction. Her other works include ‘Sirakukal Muriyum,' ‘Veettin Moolaiyil Oru Samaiyalarai' and ‘The Face behind the Mask: Women in Tamil literature.' Many of her stories have been translated into English.
The Library of Congress holds five of her writings in its collection.
Ambai was in town to address the students of American College as part of the English department celebrations – “Pegasus 2010”, focusing on the theme ‘Re-Presentations of Women in Indian Fiction.
She also answered queries posed by students. T.Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, principal, inaugurated the programme and said that male-centric ideas control sexuality, fertility, labour and mobility of women. And Ambai challenged these ideas in her works.
