Coming together for a worthy cause
ANUPAMA R
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Samyukta, a research journal devoted to women's studies, is brought out by a group of women professionals.
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ON A MISSION: Dr. Jayasree Ramakrishnan Nair and Dr. G.S. Jayasree. Photo: S. Gopakumar
There is fervour in G.S. Jayasree's voice when she narrates the story... the story of commitment and dedication to a cause - `Samyukta.'
Into its fifth year of publication, Samyukta is perhaps the only research journal in India devoted entirely to women's studies and is brought out by Women's Initiatives, a non-governmental organisation formed by women professionals based in Thiruvananthapuram.
Dr. Jayasree, the editor and publisher, explains how the journal took shape, "Some friends and I got together and brought to life a long-cherished dream of ours. We registered our NGO and Samyukta. After nearly a year of planning, the first issue was launched in January 2001." Samyukta gives space to both research-based articles and creative writing. Primarily fuelled by a desire to provide a space for women from India to express themselves, the journal is a big step towards challenging the essentially male-oriented world of publishing.
Today, Samyukta is included either in the reading list or the syllabus of at least 10 universities in India.
This growth, to a great extent, can be explained by the commitment of the Samyukta team and its friends in India and abroad. True to its name - Samyukta means coming together in Sanskrit - the journal is the concerted effort of all who come together, bound by social responsibility. It is also long-time friends coming together: Dr. Jayasree as editor and Jayasree Ramakrishnan Nair as senior associate editor. The team also includes associate editor, Hema Nair and assistant editor, Radhika Nair.
The journal's name is also part of its Indian identity. And this identity has been recognised and appreciated internationally as well. In 2004, Samyukta won the `New Venture' award from Women in Publishing, a U.K.-based women's group that works to promote the status of women working in publishing. "That was great recognition for us," says Dr. Jayasree.
Equally gratifying are the seminars and other activities that are organised as part of the Samyukta mission - women's issues. As Dr. Jayasree explains, there are certain areas of focus like women and censorship. In fact, the Nehru Centre London organised its debate of the month in July 2004 on this theme. She points out the importance of such events, "Unless we make ourselves heard in a metropolitan meet, we won't be able to make our point.
"If you have a censorship issue and if you come to us, we will do our best to help you," she points out. In this context, Dr. Jayasree's role as Director, Centre for Women's Studies, University of Kerala gives her the "leverage'' she needs.
This leverage has been used to tackle some crucial issues, including pre-natal sex selection. She also points out to a "conspiracy of silence'' among women, who do not speak out on these realities. By looking into these issues, "our primary target is to remove this fear and enable them to speak," she says. Though not part of the Samyukta activity, this work is part of "our cause,'' she explains.
However, the Samyukta team is far from satisfied. Dr. Jayasree Ramakrishnan Nair explains, "From the South we would like to encourage more people to start journals in this discipline."
Dr. Jayasree feels that there is a need for at least 10 Samyuktas.Despite countering disadvantages like lack of financial support and the geographical distance from New Delhi - where much of India's publishing industry is based - Samyukta tries its best to spread this mission. "Wherever we have an opportunity, we tell people the basics of publishing and how to get started."
Another dream that propels Samyukta is translating and publishing books. "We are considering translating and publishing early Malayalam writing from 1890-1910... one can always dream,'' says Dr. Jayasree. In the immediate future, there will be a project that will highlight the issue of health and empowerment of migrant women in Kerala.
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