“Sita to Abhaya: Have Things Changed?” -A book by Ravi Valluri Released

"Sita to Abhaya: Have Things Changed" a book by Ravi Valluri the ex Principal Chief Operations Manager North Central Railway was released during a function organized at India Habitat Centre , Delhi. The function was graced by the presence of esteemed personalities like Mamta Kalia eminent author ,Jaya Verma Sinha IRTS ( retd ) first Woman Chairman and CEO of Railway Board, Amarendra Khatua ( IFS retd ), poet and author,Surekha Sahu, IRSEE and other.While speaking on the occasion author Ravi Valluri briefed the audience about the content of the book. He said "this anthology reflects the ever-evolving status of women in Indian society & explores the status of important popular mythological figures like Sita, Draupadi, and Andal. Each of these characters, while being strong individuals in their own right, had to bear the weight of patriarchal judgement and moral scrutiny at various stages in their life. In the context of the contemporary society, the anthology explores the home-maker vs working woman stereotypes and the attendant appellations often associated with them. The anthology also explores the dichotomy of the status of women in our country, where on the one hand the Mother Goddess is deeply venerated in various parts of the country and yet women continue to be at the receiving end of patriarchal and abusive treatment both at a personal and societal level."He further said"The book also highlights the fact that though not uniform nor complete, transformation and progress have taken place. The section on women achievers highlights the battles against cultural barriers and systemic constraints that women achievers have had to overcome to secure their spot under the sun.The fiction segment drives home the point that though women-achievers are often trailblazers in their fields, it need not necessarily be so in the conventional sense. It could be something as simple as a grandmother spreading happiness all around her, through every situation in life."

The book also covers "the struggles of modern symbols like Abhaya, acknowledging that the recent case of Abhaya, represented once again the collective failure of society in guaranteeing women a safe and secure life."

In conclusion, the anthology drives home the fact that real transformation will require sustained and collective efforts to challenge outdated expectations and