Meetu Nadir Speaks- Contributor-Editor of The Shakti Within

Meetu Nadir is a writer by profession and a poet at heart. Her literary journey began in her teenage years, though she paused her writing after finishing school. She pursued diplomas in engineering and software programming, yet always felt something was missing.  It wasn’t until several years after her marriage that Meetu resumed writing, and it was then she truly felt complete. While poetry remains her preferred medium, she also enjoys crafting articles, short stories, and reflections on subjects that inspire her.

In conversation with Samata Dey – Founder Indiacafe24.com and compiler and editor of The Shakti Within- Durga’s Call

Welcome Meetu and we are happy to have you with us. How did your journey as a writer begin, and what drives you to address themes of self-empowerment, inner conflict, and societal expectations in your work?

Ans: Thank You Samata for having this session with me. Well since your question has several parts, I will try to answer them one by one.

Frankly, I cannot tell you exactly how my journey as a writer began. But yes, I do remember penning some rhyming verses when I was in studying in 9th or 10th standard. You see, I was an extremely shy and reserved child and the only way I could express my emotions was by writing about them in poetic form in my secret notebooks.

 As for what drives me to address the specific themes you have mentioned in my writings, believe me it happens unintentionally. I was a teenager when the Kashmiri Pandit community faced the turmoil of exodus and the experiences I had during that difficult time are unforgettable. It is only now that I realize how deep a mark that calamity left on my subconscious. Every time I pick up the pen to write something, the ideas in my mind are focused around these themes only.

What inspired you to explore themes of inner strength, duality, and self-discovery in your poems, especially the idea of the ‘other side’ in My Other Side”?

Ans: I guess this is an easy one to answer, though it brings back many painful memories. We went through a very traumatic time during my teenage years as we faced exodus. We were forced out of our homes in Kashmir with nothing more than the clothes we were wearing. Our life was turned completely upside down and I learned to make countless compromises even though I was just a child. One day we were living in our three-story bungalow in Kashmir like princesses and the next day we had not only become homeless but all the life savings of my parents had been lost.

We had essentially become paupers overnight and the worst thing was that my father despite being a central government employee, was not getting paid even though he was on official duty in Jammu. I witnessed my parents struggle to provide us with the best education and comfort even in the face of great financial challenges. They did not show even the slightest consideration for their own needs and desires, which shaped my psyche in this manner.  Despite everything that had happened, my parents, especially my father encouraged me and my sister to be independent yet humble and build a strong personality which can help us face any situation in life.  

Your poem “Woman Power” reflects a profound connection to the divine feminine, likening womanhood to Durga and Chandi. What role do mythology and spirituality play in shaping the narratives of your work?

Ans: Now that is an interesting question. I have been drawn to mythological texts since I was a young girl. They held a unique fascination for me and the women in these texts inspired me in various ways. I am not a spiritual person as such in that I do not practice meditation or spirituality, although I do believe in the power of divinity.

I feel that our mythological texts hold the solutions to all our problems. I am especially motivated by the strong character and powerful personalities of the females in almost all such texts. These women knew how to uphold their rights, gave and sought respect in equal measure and were in no way the damsels in distress that are presented in other mythological texts from across the world. So yes, mythology does play a significant role in shaping the narratives of my work because the one thing I have learned from these texts is that a woman is only as week as she allows herself to be.

In “The Truth of Closed Doors,” Kalpna’s journey highlights the struggles faced by women in abusive relationships. How do you balance portraying harsh realities while inspiring hope and spreading positivity in your readers?

Ans. I had written this story a few years ago, after I came to realize that domestic abuse is not restricted only among the poor and middle-class sections of society. The realization hit me really hard and it jolted me to face a reality I never expected even to exist. I was actually surprised to know that countless highly educated and self-reliant women coming from most affluent families bear the brunt of this social evil. I failed to understand why such women would put up with this kind of behaviour and violence. It was then I realized that even today parents teach their daughters to stay loyal to their husbands and in-laws after marriage, come what may.

This idea is instilled in the girls from a very young age and any actions that might go against this teaching are considered shameful. So, even when they are professionally successful and financially independent, they choose to bear the abuse so that no one can raise a finger on their up brining. Moreover, in recent years, educated and self-reliant women who refuse to take this nonsense are labelled characterless, arrogant, and what not. The realization of these and other truths was what inspired me to write this story, which is very close to my heart.

However, I am happy to see things changing around me and I feel that young mothers today do not adhere to the old thought process. Hence they teach their daughters to prioritize their safety and happiness above all, which is the need of the hour.

Your poems often challenge societal expectations around gender roles, as seen in “Who Am I?” Do you think societal change regarding women’s empowerment is progressing fast enough? What message would you give to women caught in similar struggles?

Ans A really good and important question. Well to answer the first part, I don’t think women empowerment is progressing fast enough. And sadly, the biggest reason for that are we women only. We still follow conservative traditions and beliefs that were implemented by men years ago to subjugate women. Even today, you will find a significant gender bias within families, propagated mostly by women. And this bias is not restricted to societies in rural areas, small towns and cities only. Even in major metros across the county you will come across numerous instances of this gender bias.

Now coming to the second part of your question, I think that women empowerment cannot happen without the women changing their mindset and outlook first. It is something that needs to start at home as it is most basic unit of society. We need to teach our sons to treat their female counterparts as their equals in every sense. At the same time, we need to empower our girls to fight for their rights and not compromise with their self-respect and dignity in any manner. Only then will true change begin. 

Through Kalpna’s choice at the end of the story, you emphasize freedom over societal constraints. How important do you think literature and storytelling are in fostering awareness about abuse and empowering individuals to seek change?

Ans I believe that literature in general and storytelling in particular deeply impact the outlook and perception of people about various issues. Most of us have heard various moral stories from our parents, grandparents in our childhood, which have helped shape our personality and character to a great extent.

So, I truly believe that stories impact the readers and hence can play a vital role in creating awareness about abuse and also empowering women to stand against it.

How was your experience as an Editor for this book?

Ans Firstly, let me thank you for trusting me with the responsibility of editing this excellent and I would even say unique book.This experience was truly enriching in various respects. It helped me learn about the various forms in which Shakti exists within us and guides us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the works of the various contributing authors, which were really good.

The overall concept and presentation of both poems and stories was really excellent. Let me congratulate every single contributing author of this book for their amazing creativity and skill. I feel truly humbled by the fact that I got to read your work before anyone else. And of course, I want to thank IndiaCafe24 for considering me worthy of handling this great responsibility. Thank you all once again.

Any tips for the budding authors and editors in the industry?

Ans Well, I feel that every author is unique in his/her own way and maintaining that uniqueness is what they should focus on. Your creativity is your greatest strength and not everyone is blessed with it. So, nurture it in every way you can so that it helps change your life for the better.