Book review: ‘The Caged Mynah’: The Autobiography of Chandra Kiran Sonrexa (1920-2009)

Journal article

The last two decades have witnessed a particular upsurge in women’s autobiographical writing in Hindi.1 One of the most outstanding works in this series is Piñjareki-maina-, ‘The Caged Mynah’, by Chandra Kiran Sonrexa (1920- 2009)2. Just as the majority of Chandra Kiran Sonrexa’s short stories, her autobiography presents an individual life deeply embedded in the network of society, especially of the family. Finished at the age of 87, two years before her death, the author did not have bonds of courtesy and other constraints to prevent her from being outspoken about her sufferings. Most blame is poured on her elder brother and, later, on her husband for keeping her in the cage. However, as much as individuals are held responsible, so is the society that maintains that men must have control over their women. Sonrexa is well aware that even her brother and husband were more liberal than the society around them and restrictions on their liberalism came eventually from society.

Authors: Bangha, I

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: Visva-Bharati University
• Journal: Visva-Bharati Quarterly
• Publication date: 2017-01-01
• Acceptance date: 2016-12-02