Delhi : A book launch opening with a traditional classical dance is unusual, especially when the subject matter is not about the performing arts. But for authors Anisha Motwani and Priyadarshini Narendra, the Bharatanatyam performance that celebrated Shakti was the perfect way to introduce their book, She Storms the Norm s . Guests at New Delhi’s India International Centre (IIC) ooh-ed and aah-ed and whipped out their phones to record the 10-minute performance by the two women artistes from Kalakriti Arts in Delhi.
“There are many books written about women and successful women. Everybody wants to read about them. But in many ways, this book is a little bit of an antidote to that,” said Motwani, founder-director of Storm the Norm Ventures, a digital and brand advising consultancy.
In the book, the authors focus on women entrepreneurs and leaders across sectors, looking that the career trajectories of actor Nimrat Kaur, founder of Juggernaut Books Chiki Sarkar, celebrity hairstylist and the woman behind BBlunt Adhuna Bhabani, social worker and fashion designer Ruma Devi, para-athlete from Haryana Ekta Bhyan, to name a few. Each of these women overcame prejudice, patriarchy, and power games to ‘storm the norms’. Their stories are a reflection of the systemic, structural, and societal struggles faced by women.
“Had there been no patriarchy, progress would have been faster,” said KP Fabian, former diplomat, who moderated the panel discussion. Also part of the panel w.