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Our February issue features the tales of two girls. Their stories are set half a century apart, yet share a similar theme.

The Madiga Girl is by Chalam whose writing spanned 1920-1972, the most significant years of social change in India’s history. His writings reflect the idealism of that age, and the defiance of authority and existing social norms. Chalam was one of the first Telugu writers to reject the decorous, Victorian writing style of his times.  He was also a ferocious advocate of women’s emancipation. His anger at the exploitation of women, particularly those that lacked the protection of the privileged class, burns bright in this story.

In Syed Saleem’s Meher, a young, devout Muslim girl questions tradition as her father gets ready to sacrifice his livelihood and his self-respect to arrange her wedding.