New Delhi, November 10, 2025: The Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), in collaboration with Niyogi Books, organized a panel discussion titled “Exploring Mental Health Through the Voices of Women Writers Across India” on November 6, 2025. The event took place at the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Social Sciences, JMI, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Prof. Mazhar Asif, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, served as the Chief Patron, while Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi was the Patron of the programme.
The session commenced with a welcome address and was chaired by Prof. Nishat Zaidi, Honorary Director of the Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies. The event also marked the launch of Bandaged Moments, the twenty-sixth volume in a series of short story collections featuring works translated from diverse Indian languages.
Panelists Nabinita and Nisha Pulgurila, both editors and professors, shared insights into their editorial journey and the challenges of selecting translators proficient in rendering stories from languages such as Kashmiri, Telugu, Tamil, and Gujarati into English.
Prof. Sameena Bano, from the Department of Psychology, JMI, addressed the psychological dimensions of mental health, highlighting the unique struggles faced by women. She underscored the importance of open dialogue and noted the underlying reasons why discussions around mental well-being often remain restricted.
Renowned poet, novelist, and translator Lakshmi Kannan emphasized that mental health can be nurtured through conscious effort and shared practical strategies for emotional resilience. The discussion concluded with a recitation of a short story.
The event received enthusiastic appreciation from the audience. A vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Aditi, a student of JMI. The programme was convened by Dr. Tarannum Siddiqui from the Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, with volunteers Ms. Zoyeba, Ms. Masaswini, and Ms. Aditi contributing to its success.
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