Kamini Kusum is a multifaceted individual, renowned for her literary prowess and her passion for writing. While she traversed the corporate landscape for several years, it's her dedication to the craft of storytelling that truly defines her. With a penchant for delving into the complexities of human relationships and societal dynamics, she has authored numerous captivating works, including the e-book series "Difficult Girls" and the novels "Gunpoint Groom," "Honey & the Moon," and "A New Dawn."
However, it is with her latest endeavor, "Dare to Shine: Inspiring Stories of 20 Women Changemakers," that Kamini Kusum truly shines a spotlight on her commitment to uplifting narratives. In this groundbreaking book, she shifts her focus towards celebrating the remarkable journeys of women who have defied the odds and made indelible marks in their respective fields.
"Dare to Shine" is a collection of true accounts that offers a glimpse into the lives of twenty extraordinary women leaders from diverse backgrounds. From the resilient Droupadi Murmu to the charismatic Sushmita Sen and the tenacious P.V. Sindhu, Kusum presents a kaleidoscope of experiences, triumphs, and challenges faced by these changemakers.
The book serves as a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and unwavering courage in the face of adversity. Through meticulous research and empathetic storytelling, Kusum brings to life the inspiring narratives of these women, illuminating the path they've paved for future generations.
With "Dare to Shine," Kamini Kusum not only showcases her literary talent but also underscores her commitment to amplifying voices that often go unheard. Her unwavering dedication to championing women's stories reflects her belief in the transformative power of narrative, inspiring readers to dare to dream and strive for greatness.
Beyond her literary endeavors, Kamini Kusum is a woman of diverse interests and passions. A devoted practitioner of yoga, a connoisseur of fine cuisine, and an avid cinephile, she embodies a zest for life that permeates her writing and infuses it with depth and authenticity.
As readers embark on the journey through "Dare to Shine," they are not only treated to a compelling narrative but also invited to partake in a celebration of resilience, empowerment, and the enduring spirit of womanhood. Kamini Kusum's latest offering is more than a book; it is a testament to the power of storytelling to ignite change and inspire generations to come.
1. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest book, "Dare to Shine: Inspiring Stories of 20 Women Changemakers"? What prompted you to embark on this project?
>Day to shine is my 7th paperback book apart from 32 digital books that I have written in different series. In all my books, females have a prominent role to play. The books have strong female leads be it fiction or non-fiction. As far as 'Dare to Shine' is concerned the idea basically came from my publisher. So, when we discussed about the concept, I was quite excited about it. Writing about strong women is one thing that is very close to my heart. This was going to be my first non-fiction work and something different from what all I had written till now. I knew from the very beginning when the concept came to me that I was truly going to enjoy this project as it had to be based on deep research, both primary and secondary. I am a very much research oriented person. I don't write any book without giving my all efforts in researching the subject, characters, the location and the overall plot in my books.
2. The book features the stories of twenty remarkable women from diverse fields. How did you go about selecting these women, and what criteria did you consider in choosing them?
>A few things I had to keep in mind before I listed down the women I had to write about. So, the first thing was the women had to be from diverse fields. Secondly, these names should be spread across time and be both from our history as well as present. Thirdly, their lives had to be very inspiring. These women should have dared to break the glass ceilings and the stereotypes. And last but not the least I had to include even those women who have dared to do great things in their life but unfortunately due to various reasons haven't got their due place and recognition in textbooks or media. These women deserve to be talked about and their struggle be known to the masses. So, the purpose of this book is to bring out the life journeys of a mix of selected women who are alive as well as dead, who have been talked about and even those who are not much known to the people but deserve the spotlight.
3. Could you share with us some of the most memorable or impactful stories from the book? What sets these women apart in their respective fields?
>I was very much moved by the story of our President Droupadi Murmu ji. Droupadi ji is the first tribal and the second woman to hold the office. She has struggled a lot to complete her education as she came from a remote village in Odisha. Coming from a tribal community and that too a woman, achieving education during those days was really difficult. She had suffered huge personal tragedies too. She lost her young son and then her second son. The fate was truly harsh. She lost her husband too and all that happened within a span of few years. But she is a Woman of Steel and she has amply proved it. Then there is another inspiring woman, Neera Arya, the first lady spy of Indian National Army. Not many people know she killed her own husband to save the life of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. She had to suffer excruciating pain and atrocities at the hand of British but she never gave up. Her story deserves to be brought out to the masses. All other women in this book truly inspiring life.
4. In your research and writing process for "Dare to Shine," what challenges did you encounter, if any, in gathering and presenting these women's stories authentically and respectfully?
>I faced a few challenges while writing this book. There are a few women like Neera Arya, Sarla Thukral and a couple of more about whom not much content is available. So, finding facts about them was a daunting task for me. I had to take out articles from archives. I had to visit libraries for books on them or anything written about them. So, I had to work a lot to gather more and more about them. Secondly, the purpose of this book is not to just put forward the facts and figures but to also bring out the emotions, pains and the feelings that have been associated with the struggles of these woman. That is what impacts the minds of the readers and also inspires them to take up the challenges life throws.
5. Many of the women featured in your book have overcome significant obstacles and barriers to achieve success. What common themes or characteristics did you observe among them, and how do you believe their stories can inspire others, particularly women facing similar challenges?
>Being a woman is not easy at all. Coming from a patriarchal society, it is not easy for a woman to break the stereotypes, fight the mind set of the people in the society and fullfill their own dreams. Some of these women have chosen to take up a career in fields that have usually been considered to be male's area and when we talk of those courageous women we chose during different times of history, they struggled even more. Being a female ruler, a space scientist, a private detective, a mountaineer, a stuntwoman, a pilot, a woman to travel abroad to study medicine when crossing the sea was considered a taboo, is definitely not easy. The common thing among all these women is that they are the Women of Steel who chose not to buckle down under the pressure of any odd circumstances or challenges life threw at them.
6. As an author known for exploring complex emotions and narratives around women, how did you approach portraying the resilience and achievements of the women in "Dare to Shine"? Were there specific storytelling techniques or perspectives you employed?
>I have been a fiction writer for several years. I have written romance, romantic suspense, romantic thrillers and dramas. All these have emotional ups and downs, the circumstancial feelings and also a specific way of slowly and steadily revealing the suspense and unfolding the happenings. The same way of storytelling, a reader can find in my non-fiction as well. I believe that non-fiction shouldn't be written straight forward with just facts and the views that a writer wants to communicate rather these should come in a unique style of storytelling revealing the emotions and the challenges bit by bit. It makes the non-fiction quite interesting and also keeps the readers hooked to the entire chapter as if they are reading a real life thriller.
7. Given your background in management and experience in the corporate sector, how do you think the stories of the women in your book can resonate with professionals and leaders in various industries? What lessons or insights can they derive from these narratives?
>I am thankful to my management background which is about 13 years of my life in the corporate sector. All these years I met different people with different moods, temperaments and thoughts. I have also come across some strong female business leaders who have struggled hard to get to the top and made their mark in a specific industry. I believe meeting and interacting with different people, understanding their mindset and the psychology behind every action they take, really helps me as a writer. Moreover since I have an HR background, I have always seen a person and a situation with a psychological bent of mind. This helps me get an insight of any circumstance and also understand the complex emotions and relationship between two people. So, anyone from any industry or any aspect of life who reads my book can easily relate to the narrative I build up.
8. The title of your book, "Dare to Shine," suggests a message of empowerment and courage. What message do you hope readers, especially young women and girls, will take away from these stories?
>'Dare to Shine' gives a strong message to all the girls with dreams in their eyes that there is nothing that can't be accomplished. There is nothing like a man's area or a profession. With their hard work, determination and passion, women can achieve everything they want in life. Fortune does favour the brave.
9. Beyond their professional accomplishments, many of the women featured in your book have diverse interests and passions, much like yourself. How did you balance portraying their multifaceted identities while focusing on their achievements?
>Creating balance in a book is all about playing with words in a strategic way. In my books, whether it is a fiction or a non-fiction, I always take care that nothing should be over-stretched. Every emotion or expression needs to be balanced in such a way that the readers don't get bored of a particular piece or section of writing. I think years of writing fiction of overlapping genres has really helped me in non-fiction as well.
10. Lastly, what do you hope readers will gain from reading "Dare to Shine," and what impact do you envision this book having in the broader conversation about women's empowerment and leadership?
>'Dare to Shine' is a very ambitious book of mine. A lot of hard work and research including primary as well as secondary has gone into it. I have interviewed a few of the women who were approachable and tried to understand their lives. I also read lot of books and articles in the process of research. So, every woman has faced different set of challenges at different point of time in their lives. Making a mark in different fields specially stereotyped for males, also comes with their own set of challenges. So, the purpose of the book is multifold; to bring forward the inspiring stories of these 20 women changemaker and to put forward the facts and even those aspects of their lives which may not be known by people in general. The book also aims to provide spotlight to those ladies who have not been given their share of recognition. The book is truly about courage and come-what-may- I- will-do-it spirit.
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