Prabha Khaitan's autobiography at JLF

Jaipur, Jan 3 (IBNS) The English translation of late feminist writer and businesswoman Dr Prabha Khaitan's autobiography - A Life Apart - would be released at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2013.

The book has been translated from the original autobiography in Hindi called Anya Se Ananaya.

The book would be released at a special session named after the book at the Jaipur LitFest (Jan 24-28).

Kolkata-based Prabha Khaitan was a highly acclaimed feminist writer, poet and social activist. The autobiography has been translated into English by eminent author and editor Ira Pande.

Anya Se Ananaya was the last published book of Dr Khaitan and is one of the largest selling books by a female author in Hindi.

The translated book has been published by Padma Shri Urvashi Butalia's publishing house Zubaan and the foreword has been written by the well known writer and Director of JLF, Namita Gokhale.

"Prabha Khaitan's story of her life and times is possibly one of the most honest books I have ever read. Sometimes it cuts too close to the bone for middle class comfort and convenience. All her life, she swam upstream, defying convention, defying prejudice, questioning choices," said Namita Gokhale.

Khaitan has received the President's Award for her writings. She was also the recipient of the prestigious Bihari Puraskar.

The book gives insights of the Marwari community of Kolkata during her time.

This eminent writer, in her lifetime, has attempted different genres of literature.

She has written novels, novellas, short stories, reflections, autobiography, poetry and has even translated and edited books.

Her autobiography Anya Se Ananaya along with her translation of Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex has been very well received.

Khaitan was the first lady President of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce, the oldest Chamber of Commerce of Asia.

She was not only a feminist writer but also worked very hard for the upliftment and empowerment of women and children.

She founded the Prabaha Khaitan Foundation for this purpose.

Ira Pande has recently retired as the Chief Editor at India International Center.

She has translated the various works of eminent Hindi writers like Shivani and Manohar Shyam Joshi among others.