New Delhi, February 23, 2026 The Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies (SNCWS), Jamia Millia Islamia, in collaboration with The Book Review Literary Trust successfully organised a one-day national symposium on “Writing, Reviewing, Translating: Women, Words, and Worlds” on 17th February 2026 at Mir Anis Hall, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. The symposium brought together eminent writers, reviewers, translators, editors, and scholars to deliberate on women’s literary production, the politics of reviewing, the challenges and possibilities of translation.
The programme commenced with an inaugural address by the Director, Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, Prof Nishat Zaidi who outlined the journey and the achievements of Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies on completion of its 25 years. Ms. Chandra Chari, Founder Editor of The Book Review Literary Trust addressed the gathering about the origins and objectives of The Book Review journal and its sustained commitment to fostering critical literary culture in India. She underscored the importance of book reviewing as a vital intellectual practice and emphasised the role of women in shaping contemporary literary discourse.
The first session, titled “Reviewing, Writing, Publishing Women – A Critical Exploration of Gendered Literary Landscapes,” was moderated by Dr. Aakriti Mandhwani. The panel featured Dr. Semeen Ali, Ms. Rachna Kalra, Dr. Malvika Maheshwari, Dr. Sucharita Sengupta, and Dr. Kanupriya Dhingra. The speakers reflected on questions of identity and authorship, editorial gatekeeping, the politics of literary knowledge, and the sustainability of women’s writing in South Asia. Discussions highlighted the need to move beyond reductive categorisations of “women’s writing,” to encourage mentorship and alternative platforms, and to view reviewing as both scholarship and resistance.
The second session, “Writing the City,” moderated by Dr Faiz Ullah, explored literary engagements with urban spaces, particularly Delhi. Speakers Ananya Vajpeyi, Ekta Chauhan, and Aishwarya Jha reflected on the city as a site of memory, transformation, and affect. The discussion examined urban villages, shifting cityscapes, nostalgia, and the interplay between lived experience and literary imagination.
The third session, “Writing/Translating Women,” was moderated by Dr. Amina Hussain, Assistant Professor, SNCWS. The panel included renowned Hindi author Mridula Garg, noted translator, Prof. Arjumand Ara, Dr. Deeba Zafir, and Dr. Firdous Azmat Siddiqui. The speakers addressed the epistemic marginalisation of women’s writing, the complexities of translation, intersectional concerns of caste and class, and representations of Muslim women in literature and history. The session emphasised that writing must provoke critical reflection, that translation demands ethical responsibility, and that marginal voices must be represented with nuance and sensitivity.
The symposium concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Amina Hussain. She expressed gratitude to Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice Chancellor; Prof. Mehtab Alam Rizwi, Registrar; Ms. Chandra Chari; and Prof. Nishat Zaidi, Honorary Director, SNCWS, for their guidance and support. She also thanked the panelists, faculty members, staff, students, and participants for their active engagement.
The symposium reaffirmed Jamia Millia Islamia’s commitment to fostering inclusive and critical academic spaces that foreground women’s voices in literature, scholarship, and translation, and to promoting dialogue that bridges disciplines and communities.
