Kolkata: Starmark, in association with Penguin books, held an interaction on" Indulge your mind...the arts are not a lost cause"
Author Priyanka Mookherjee, whose debut novel Hedon, has garnered rave reviews from critics and readers alike, had a lively interaction.
Speaking on the stereotyped bias towards science, Khanna said that the scene is improving with parents being more open to their wards taking up careers in the field of arts. "Youngsters are not being forced take up science any more," she said, while maintaining that this change in mindset is slow in coming.
Mookherjee spoke about her grandparent's reaction when she told them about her decision to leave science and pursue arts instead. "They were left wide eyed. Growing up in a family of doctors, they were in a state of shock," she said.
Speaking about the importance of art, Mookherjee said that the fact that people look for beauty is a testament in itself.
"The cave paintings were the very first things our species did, and that is so artistic," She added.
Khanna also spoke about the prejudices she faces in her daily life as a working lady.
Asked about it, she said, "I face a lot of prejudices. When I tell people that I have no time, they stare at me awkwardly. Some say, well you're just making a skirt, what's the big deal?" she shared.
Echoing her sentiments, Mookherjee said, "The glamour is at the end of it. Making something beautiful takes an insane amount of work."
The panelists also rued the lack of participation from men in doing chores but stated that the trend is changing, lauding the present generation for being progressive.
Asked if she wanted to convey a particular message through her writings, the author said she refrained from doing so as she expected people to form their own opinion.
"I had to fight with the publishers to not have a message. It is a story, it has a lot of feeling. i don't want to shove a message through the book," Mookherjee said.
Asked about her prominent role in the industry, Khanna said that it is tough to sustain, but not impossible.
"You have be consistent. It is a tough industry. I tear up hundreds of outfits before coming up with the actual piece. you need to work hard."
Hedon is published by Penguin India and is priced at Rs. 299.
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