On Creating Fall to Pieces by Editor Sonali Sharma
Fall to Pieces: Stand, Break, and Rise is a collection of stories and articles from 24 authors from India, the UK, Canada, the US, and Africa. The idea that lies behind creating this book stems from the word ‘glass’. Breaking the glass ceiling is important to continue living in a progressive society. It is vital to grow with time and not stick to false, rigid conventions rooted deep in our cultures. These norms don’t really contribute to the scientific, socio-economic, and cultural development of society.
I was sitting in my office at the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra in Dehradun, India. It was a general conversation with one of the fellow workers in the organization about the social barriers existing in our State. With my co-worker, Mrs. Rekha Pundir, having a good hold over the grassroots communities in far-off villages of my State of Uttarakhand, she told me about the various stereotypical problems faced by the men and women of marginalized sections in these villages.
On the harsher side, this reality remains hidden from the fast-developing corporate-centered world. Such people from backward areas are not able to voice their difficulties as they lack the support and courage to break the rigid chains that bind them.
After this intriguing discussion, I reflected the following day about writing these thoughts down on paper. But were only my ideas sufficient, as I lived in a particular part of society without knowing about the rest of the world? What about the rigid norms existing in the remaining cultures living on earth? How far could I reach people who had a voice? The world seemed too vast to cover.
But what connects humans today across the globe? It is the power of social media. So, I started reaching out to people on different social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to tell them about my book project idea. At the same time, I could connect myself to a publishing house called Inkfeathers Publishing, based in the capital city of India, New Delhi.
The book poster was soon launched. I was contacted by people who showed deep interest and aligned with my thoughts. Some told me that they have been victims of false conventions in their part of society. Others said that they wished to break a bad normal someday. They all had the will to be change makers in society. It is said that a brilliant mindset is rare, but what is rarer is mettle inside people.
My mention of compiling this book remains incomplete without being grateful to a book called Social Policy: Themes and Approaches by Paul Spicker. It talks about the solutions that humanity needs. These solutions come when individuals take action and respond to social problems. These actions can be logically and scientifically driven. Science and thinking power, if used in the right direction, can let humanity prevail.
Slowly, the team of Fall to Pieces started to form. It resulted in co-authors V. Rashmi Rao, Aruna Parandhama, Irene Munyiri, Dr. Janki Mistry, Akhila Mohan CG, Darshana Sontakke, Anuradha Gupta, Tulsi Nambiar, Juhi Arya, Swati Verma, Pernel, Crrystal Agravat, Charvi Jain, Kirti S. Wadhwa, Niyati Singh, Vaishnavi S., Ridima Vaidya, Limakshi Devi, Bhumika Kukreja, Karen, Vinay Damodar, Awantika Gupta, and Authorneelima contributing their valuable inputs towards the book. All the co-authors held a single-minded belief in the anthology. What they have written is inspiring and touches the out-of-the-box circle of society.
While going through this book of contemporary perspectives, the readers encounter men, women, and children who have broken stereotypes. Diverse stereotypes have been discussed in the book, specifically related to Indian and African cultures. One may think of women making bold choices about motherhood and divorce. There are stories of women who have come out of abusive relationships and chosen a better and happier life for themselves and their children.
Society never accepts novelty, at least not in the beginning. But there are personalities so firm and patient who don’t give up; they stand, break, and rise to choose their career paths and dreams. ‘Don’t eat too much, for you may grow fat. A fat woman doesn’t define beauty.’ ‘A lady wearing a nightgown during the daytime is a slut. ‘Marry only a man who has a dollar tag!’ Such ideas need to be challenged over time.
Fall to Pieces has just done this work. It challenges, redefines, and changes perspectives. It has answers like ‘Fat or slim are not words that define a woman.’ ‘I wear a nightgown during the day because it gives me comfort.’ ‘I will marry a man who satisfies my intellect and soul, not a man with a tag.’
A very sensitive issue of male abuse is often laughed at. Nobody bothers about the pain that men or boys hold within them from an episode of abuse.
Very closely follow those mentally challenged people who are looked down upon by people. What these survivors need are little acts of hope from society. Perhaps that will make their lives more livable. Stereotypes related to the English language as a standard for success, women falling in love with older men, menstruation, LGBTQ+, death superstitions, post-partum depression in young mothers, etc. have been captured in the book.
At last, I would urge the readers to think more critically about social norms and differentiate between an actual and false society. Any unprogressive, stagnant belief, norm, or ritual must be defeated in our beautiful humane world.
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FALL TO PIECES
Not all rules and not all yardsticks make you grow. They are nothing but false conventions that degrade the roots of cultures and societies. Hope and happiness lie in breaking them and rising above them. All it takes is an unstoppable voice and a brave changemaker’s spirit. Fall to Pieces: Stand, Break and Rise is such a collection of stories and articles where the authors have refused to stick to the bad normal. Their writings have an inspirational tone in the form of great self-worth, appealing sentiments, out-of-the-box thinking, adamant decisions, strong rebellions, wise suggestions, and most of all, an undying persistence for their inner belief. If you are a winner who wishes to break the flaws of society, then this book is for you!
Buy FALL TO PIECES HERE
Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips
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