But what about the women who stood beside them, shaped their destinies, and paid the price for their decisions? Sita endured exile and fire. Kaikeyi chose between her son and her husband. Surpanakha faced rejection and mutilation. Mandodari watched her world crumble. Kaushalya wept and waited. Tara’s trials were cruel. Shanta and Ahilya waited lifetimes for recognition.

We know all this, yet the women’s stories seem incomplete. Their inner lives remain a mystery, their motivations reduced to simplistic labels: devoted, scheming, lustful, loyal, humble, evil.

But what if they could speak for themselves?

Lost Among the Myths: Her Stories From the Ramayana gives each woman space to tell her story – the choices she made and the consequences thereof. Each speaks of love and loss, power and powerlessness, belonging and longing, dreams deferred, and prices paid.

Author Kalyani Sardesai has spent her career exploring themes of identity, belonging, and womanhood. From working with leading dailies like The Indian Express, DNA, and The Times of India to documenting narratives in adoption rights, cancer rehabilitation, family court cases, and the Deccan Plateau’s history, her work has always circled back to one core question: whose stories get told, and whose get lost?

This book, published by Sakaal Publications, represents a natural progression in her storytelling journey. After chronicling real women’s struggles in contemporary India, Sardesai turns to mythology to explore the timeless dimensions of these same struggles.

“The concerns sound familiar: How much should a woman sacrifice for family and community? When does duty become imprisonment? Is ambition in a woman justified? What happens when desire upsets collective peace?” says Sardesai. “Any revisitation of the epics is essentially a reiteration of the values of our times. Each of these women characters was a prelude to modern Indian womanhood.”

Instead of dedicating an entire novel to one character, Sardesai has deliberately chosen the genre of short stories to highlight their dilemmas in a way that is immediate and impactful. Interestingly, each woman has been likened to a gemstone, her strengths likened to its properties – “to heighten each one’s individuality, uniqueness and agency.”

Every generation reinterprets these ancient figures through its own lens. In listening to their stories, we hear echoes of our own.

The beautiful cover for the book is by renowned artist and digital creator Chandramohan Kulkarni, whose oeuvre consists of many of the moods and moments of the Ramayana.

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Dignitaries like Dr Suresh Shinde; Senior Physician, Dr Jayant Navarange; Senior Pediatrician, Dr Jagannath Dixit; Chairman of ADORE Trust, and Pravin Kulkarni; Vice President of Infosys, Pune were present on the occasion. Members and trustees of the ADORE Trust were also present.

Many people across India, including the members of the Diabetes Reversal Counselling Centre, Pune who have successfully moved towards diabetes remission were felicitated with a memento, while some of them also narrated their success stories. The achievers among others included a gynecologist Dr Suhas Deshpande from Karad, a pediatrician Dr Suhas Choudhary from Kalyan, and a retired military officer Vitthal Thorat.

“The people whose success stories we hear today are role models for everybody around them. All the people who have seen success to date have strictly followed the diet and have made lifestyle changes. Even today, so many people are unaware that they have been diagnosed with diabetes. Therefore, this campaign of ‘World Free of Diabetes and Obesity’ is for every Indian, and as a responsible citizen of this country, I believe that we all should at least try this lifestyle for good and if it shows expected results, make it a habit and promote to others,” said Dr. Jagannath Dixit. He also urged people to take advantage of this free campaign by visiting the Diabetes Reversal Counseling Centre at the Jangli Maharaj Road, Pune.

Dr Suresh Shinde highlighted how obesity and diabetes have constantly been affecting our society. “We eat more than required and multiple times in a day. If we have control over this, only then there’ll be a way out to prevent such diseases. As a society it is our responsibility to take forward this campaign of ‘World Free of Diabetes and Obesity’ started by Dr Dixit and spread it as much as possible,” he added.

Pravin Kulkarni said, “Reports show that 11-12 crore of Indians are diabetic, while 16 crore of them are pre-diabetic, and every 4 out of 10 people have some of the other problems related to obesity, blood pressure, etc. These days, even teenagers and school-going students are falling prey to being pre-diabetic or diabetic. That’s why I believe that immediate steps should be taken to curb such a big challenge ahead of us.” Infosys Foundation believes that lifestyle diseases should have lifestyle solutions. As prevention is better than cure, they’ve hence been supporting ADORE trust.

Dr Jayant Navarange emphasized following simple rules put forth by Dr. Dixit for a better lifestyle. He also highlighted his participation in the ‘90-Day Weight Loss Challenge’ organized by Dr Dixit, and at the same time urged everyone to actively join it too.

Ar. Shatakshi Dasture has written the book in English, while Dr. Ratnakar Gore and Dr Suhasini Bhalerao have contributed to the Marathi version of it. The book has 91 exemplary success stories. During this program, the initiative of healthful Dr Dixit Thali was also launched.

Sanjay More played the anchor for the event and Vishwas Joshi presented the Vote of Thanks.

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MUMBAI: India is set to witness a revolutionary moment in the digital entertainment space with the launch of ‘The nAIna Show’, a unique and groundbreaking series hosted by Naina, India’s first AI superstar. This podcast marks a significant milestone as the country’s first AI-driven podcast series, featuring in-depth and insightful interviews with some of the most celebrated personalities in the entertainment industry. 

The guest list includes Sobhita Dhulipala, Sanya Malhotra, Richa Chadha, Saiyami Kher, Esha Deol, Hansika Motwani, Ridhima Pathak, Nargis Fakhri, Kritika Kamra and many more. 

Naina, known for her remarkable AI capabilities blended with a uniquely Indian perspective, will engage with celebrities from various fields, including Bollywood, sports, music, etc. This platform offers an unprecedented opportunity for fans to experience their favorite stars through the lens of advanced artificial intelligence. 

The podcast series aims to delve deep into the lives, careers, and personal stories of these celebrities, providing listeners with a rare and intimate experience. Naina’s ability to analyze and ask thought-provoking questions promises to bring out the most candid and engaging responses from her guests. 

Listeners can expect a blend of insights, emotion, and humor in each episode, making ‘The nAIna Show’, not just an entertainment venture but an enlightening journey into the minds of India’s most influential figures. 

The podcast will be available on Naina’s and Pop Diaries’ YouTube channels, ensuring easy access for audiences worldwide. Its interactive format will also allow listeners to submit their questions and comments, creating an engaging experience. 

Naina’s foray into podcasting is not just a technological marvel but a cultural phenomenon, showcasing the potential of AI in reshaping media and entertainment. This series is a testament to India’s growing prowess in the field of artificial intelligence and its application in creative industries. 

Stay tuned for the first episode of ‘The nAIna Show’, where Naina, the AI superstar, takes the art of conversation to a new level, redefining the way we engage with media and technology. The podcast promises to be a trailblazer in the digital era, seamlessly integrating AI innovation with the rich tapestry of Indian culture and celebrity stories. 

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MUMBAI: In a bid to bring and share diverse human stories with a wider audience in an experiential format, India’s largest storytelling platform, Humans of Bombay (HOB), is launching the debut edition of the Bombay Storytelling Festival (BSF). An all-new offline venture by HOB, the festival promises to be a celebration of the undaunted human spirit and the power of community. It will offer audiences a chance to experience the heartfelt stories they read and love online, outside the digital realm, for the first time ever at Bayview Lawns in Mumbai on 28th October 2023.

Stories are an intrinsic part of the experience of being human. It is what binds us all together, often sparking a spectrum of emotions and empathy for one another and forging lifelong connections. Rooted in this ideology, the BSF will be a culmination of all kinds of stories in every form, from nooks and crannies of India — stories from celebrated artists and well-known personalities, stories from those who are rich in experiences, and stories from people who have created a tremendous impact in society. With real stories of real people in their own words, BSF intends to be a melting pot of conversations that are raw, unfiltered, and authentic.

The festival seeks to celebrate people across demographics, not only through these multifaceted stories but also via immersive experiences like The Storyteller’s Stage, Human Library, Panel Discussions, Open Mic, etc. This experience will be elevated through a live band and music alongside larger-than-life art installations.

Furthermore, BSF will be sustainable, and host food stalls and other booths dedicated to small business owners and new voices in the space, thereby realizing its vision to uplift them. Attendees can indulge in delicacies that will make their taste buds travel, giving them a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Talking about the debut edition of the festival, Karishma Mehta, the Founder of Humans of Bombay, says, “Today’s world is fast-paced – everything can change in the blink of an eye, and most of us have the attention span of a goldfish. However, if there is one thing that has the power to bind us humans together, it is stories. And so, we decided to dedicate a day to celebrate these stories of love, hope, faith, and courage with the Bombay Storytelling Festival.

The authenticity of HOB’s stories has always hit the right chord with the community, leaving them with a smile or maybe a tear but always with a sense of belonging. And with BSF, we intend to do just that, but on a wider scale. The festival will be an inclusive event and see no divide in terms of gender, caste, creed, race, sexuality or ability — everybody belongs here, and everybody can tell their stories no-holds-barred.”

Humans of Bombay is a movement that started nine years ago with the belief that every person has a story to tell, thus providing them with a platform to tell these stories. The BSF endeavors to expand on this belief by widening the platform that HOB provides. With this, it seeks to enable and empower a broader audience with myriad experiences to tell their stories, thereby unraveling a tapestry of human narratives like never before.

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