I’m on a roll with my reading. I’m through with two books in less than a week. Some of it can be attributed to the fact that this second book, that I am attempting to review today, was actually a really light read. I haven’t been a big fan of Indian authors, so my picking up a second Indian author written book is a surprise to even me. It so happened that the gap between finishing my last book and deciding my next, my mum happened to suggest my reading the book in question and I did. Twinkle Khanna comes from a filmy background with parents Rajesh Khanna, Dimple Kapadia and being married to superstar, Akshay Kumar. She herself having been a successful actress in a different decade. Ms.Funnybones (her Twitter handle) has gained a lot of support for her witty yet intelligent take on a lot of happenings around India. Bollywood hasn’t always been known for people taking a stand (unless their next step was to join politics), it’s refreshing to find someone who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Her book ‘The Legend of Laksmi Prasad’  is her stand on women empowerment in India.

The book consists of three short stories and one novella. The novella is inspired by Arunachalam Muruganantham also popular as the sanitary pad man of India (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachalam_Muruganantham). Fictionalising his story into a short, enjoyable, easy read novella; Khanna tells his story with rather simplicity that won my interest. His story is a tale of courage and purpose. The story is of his struggle to make sanitary napkins available to all Indian women at a low cost. An Indian man struggling to empower women and better their lives is a far cry from the usual women empowerment tales where men are the bad guys.

The three short stories were about three women in different settings and different phase in the life cycle who wanted to live their lives by their rules and not be dictated by men and society. From Lakshmi Prasad, the young girl who comes up with an indigenous plan to secure the future of the girls in her village, to Nonni Appa, the aged widow who decides to follow her heart despite the rules of the society, to Elisa Thomas, a middle aged woman who lives life by her own rules not succumbing to anyone. Khanna has portrayed women empowerment with simplicity.

The book is a very light read. I finished reading it in a couple of hours. The stories are enjoyable and yet pass on a powerful message. It’s a book not trying to impress instead it has simplified the concept of women empowerment for every layman to understand.

Verdict: Enjoyable, light read. Go for it! ✔