Inspired by his mother, author pens book on women changemakers

A Bengalurean has written a book Chavi Unlock Your Dreams about ten female social workers from across the country. This is Prasanna Karthik S’s fourth book on women. 
Prasanna (right) with book lovers
Prasanna (right) with book lovers

BENGALURU: A Bengalurean has written a book Chavi Unlock Your Dreams about ten female social workers from across the country. This is Prasanna Karthik S’s fourth book on women. 

Prasanna, 26, started writing books when he was 19 years old. His first book was in Kannada. He wrote his first three books on women’s participation in the freedom movement. “There were many women who contributed to the freedom fight but never made it to the limelight. We have always heard only about Rani Laxmibai and Sarojini Naidu. But women from Midnapore too actively participated in the freedom struggle. I have covered about it in my third book.”   

He decided to write on a different subject but related to women and hence, chose social workers as a subject. “There are so many of them contributing towards education and society such as Shukla Bose from Parikrma Humanity Foundation, Bengaluru, Prathima Devi who feeds 300 stray dogs in Delhi and Binalakshmi Nepram who supports widows of victims of Maoist attacks in Manipur.” He has featured four women from Karnataka, two from Maharashtra two from Delhi and a woman from Manipur. “I met them. These women work without any support from the government. I want the book  to right that,” he says. 
He adds that his book has been dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his campaign Beti Bachao, Beti Padao. “I hope to meet him someday,” he says.

The preview of the book has been written by his mother. Prasanna says his mother is his inspiration. “She always wanted to be a writer. But she couldn’t pursue it. She got married at 24 years of age and the first thing she did was make about 400 chapatis a day for 16 members in the family in Mumbai. So, I am fulfilling her wishes.” 

Four hundred copies of the book have already been pre-ordered by schools and Shukla Bose. He says about 35 to 40 schools all over Karnataka buy his books. “So, I easily sell about 1,000 copies,” he adds. Selling the books have been a challenge. He recalls, “I could sell only about 700 copies of my first book in two years. When you are new to the literary world, no one wants to invest in your work.”  
Prasanna has further plans to adopt a village Gandhal in Raichur district. “There is no proper sewage system and toilets there,” he says.

To get a copy of the book, contact Prasanna on 70263 86563.

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