Among the crowd of 400 odd diwali issues that flood the market every year covering diverse topics, is ‘Purushspandana’, brought out by Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA), which has been featuring interesting articles, stories / fiction, poems, interviews and all other forms of expression by men from various walks of life — on a wide range of Man-Woman Relationship issues.
This year, we have brought out the 16th issue and its a very special one. The theme is ‘Sexuality’ and apart from covering write-ups by men, we are having a separate section by women writers. This is in view of our perspective of providing mutual spaces for emancipating men and women in pursuit of our common goal towards a gender-just society. The response we have received from women writers by way of contributions to the magazine has been very heartening and we are grateful for the enriching, frank and bold views on a sensitive topic, having several taboos in society.
In the special issue, we have women writers Meghna Pethe and Pradnya Daya Pawar, activist Manisha Gupte expressing on various aspects of sexuality and sexual orientation ; young journalists Aarti Kadam and Pragati Bankhele presenting their valuable insights and disturbing experiences on the subject, artists Suhas Bahulkar, Jyotsna Kadam and Shubha Gokhale and art-critic Sharmila Phadke relating art and sexuality with its various dimensions, young writer Manaswini Lata Ravindra presenting the mindset of the young generation, Sachin Garud commenting on contemporary sexual grafittis in public toilets esp. educational institutions, Vandana Khare doing a critique on deconstructing masculinity vis-a-vis sexual orientation of protagonists in 3 widely acclaimed films Jogwa, Natarang and Balgandharva; writer Kumar Nawathe’s dispassionate sharing of the angst of homosexuals and transgender community, analytical articles by activist – academician Chhaya Datar, sociologist Shriniwas Hemade and journalist Awdhoot Paralkar.
We wish and hope that the issue generates intelligent debate and dialogue among a wide section of men and women across the state.
Our Diwali issue is available across Mumbai and Pune in leading bookstalls, among them —-
In Mumbai: Ideal Book Depot and Majestic near Dadar Railway Station W; Majestic at Girgaum and
Thane, Jawahar Book Depot at Vileparle, Shabd Book Gallery at Borivli. Ph. contact 9870307748
In Pune: Utkarsh Book Service, near Deccan Gymkhana and other places. Phone contact: Amol –
8149004608; Ganesh — 9850567019
Contact Harish Sadani Ph. +91 9870307748 or Ravindra Rukmini Pandharinath Ph. +91 9764642434 (Editors, Purushspa)
