By Hani Al-Bahrani
KUWAIT, Oct 19 (KUNA) -- A book capturing the lives and achievements of some 17 Kuwaiti women was launched at the National Library of Kuwait under the patronage of Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah on Wednesday.
"Over the last 14 years, I have done extensive work on Kuwaiti women, the hurdles they faced, and their achievements. I learned that Kuwait is one of the most progressive countries in the Middle East, which granted its women basic rights of education and personal advancements long before other countries in the region," Indian writer and author of the book "Women of Kuwait: Turning Tides" Chaitali B. Roy exclusively told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
She added that despite the fact that the right to vote for Kuwaiti women came much later. "I realized that women in Kuwait, unlike stereotypical portraitures, had their own standing, their own voice. I have written on glass ceiling what women face in the corporate world. I have written about the way women were prevented from participating in government, but despite the deterrents, most women in Kuwait have persisted with their education, and their ambitions.
"I wrote about some of these women, and I captured their journey for a special series that I did for a couple of years on Radio Kuwait. I also realized while doing this that a lot of young people in Kuwait were unaware of the role these women had played in nation building, education, and commerce.
"There was a possibility of their stories getting lost. It was then I thought of putting together these stories in a book form. That was the time I met my Indian publisher and mentor Narendra Kumar.
Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters Ali Al-Yoha deputized the Information Minister at the venue.
On the idea of building bridges, Roy trusted this book will build yet another bridge of understanding between India and Kuwait.
Roy presented "Women of Kuwait: Turning Tides" at the residence of the Kuwaiti Ambassador Fahad Ahmad Al-Awadhi in the Indian capital last September, saying that her personal interactions with Kuwaiti women helped her in ridding herself off stereotypes about females in the Gulf country and Arab women in general.
The book documents the lives of some extraordinary Kuwaiti women of substance, celebrating their perseverance, drive and gumption in challenging belittling stereotypes and becoming exceptional role models for not only their compatriots, but women elsewhere.
According to a 2013 statistic, around 53 percent of Kuwaiti women were part of the labor force, helping the country to achieve above regional average, as highest percentage of working female citizens in the GCC were recorded in Kuwait.
"Women of Kuwait: Turning Tides" features 17 prominent Kuwaiti women from the fields of politics, diplomacy, education, sports, art, and business such as Sara Akbar, Dr. Masouma Al-Mubarak, Dr Moudhi Al-Humoud, Ambassador Nabeela Al-Mulla, Sheikha Altaf Al-Sabah, Lulwa and Balsam Al-Ayoub, who most attended the event, which also saw the attendance of a host of ambassadors and dignitaries.
Roy has been in print media and radio broadcasting in Kuwait and India for over 20 years. As Special Correspondent for Arab Times, and as Editor and Producer for Radio Kuwait, she has been working on features and articles, and producing audio documentaries and special shows since 2001. Her work, which spans art, culture, society, history, women of Arab and the Islamic world, brought her in touch with many inspiring Kuwaiti women who left an indelible impression. (end) hb