KARACHI, Nov 25: Sanaya, a writer from Maharashtra was the guest at a reception jointly held in her honour by 'Pen for Peace' and the 'Fiction Group' on Wednesday.

Author of a dozen story collections and three novels, Sanaya, wife of a banker, Balaraman, refuses to attach her husband's name. She informed the audience about the literary movement in the state of Maharashtra and writings in the Marathi language.

The couple happen to stay in Karachi for a day before leaving for Mumbai. Mr Balaraman was thrilled to visit Ram Swami, an old locality of Karachi where he was born before partition. So far him, it was a home coming.

The petite lady, looking younger than her age, spoke in Urdu, which some Indian friends call Hindi. Sanaya introduced herself as a "fortunate women born in a family of progressive and enlightened parents," herself a feminist, but certainly not a "man-hater".

She started writing poetry and later fiction at the age of 11 and was known as a promising writer when she was in college. "Woman is the central theme of my writing and I love to narrate various aspects of human relationship," she said, adding, "what attracts me is the inner strength of women." Feminism, to her was a way of life, against all prejudices and she saw no conflict between man and woman.

Interestingly, Mr Raman who is Tamil speaking cannot read Marathi, but "he is more feminist than me," Sanaya remarked looking towards his "caring and loving partner."

Talking about the Marathi literature, she said it had a long tradition and a rich heritage of poetry and philosophy coming from the 14th century. Women started writing in the 18th century and there was an upsurge of progressive literature by the 19th century.

The feminist movement started around in the 1970s. Its theme was the "new women" who comes out of the safe confines of home to face the world. "After the decade of 1940 - full of activism - the 70s and 80s was a lean period years for literature," she said. Then came the Dalit literature. The marginalised and poor people suddenly gained self-confidence. They started writing about themselves. Even women wrote biographies and life accounts.

Sanaya said the rural areas were now humming with great literary activism. In Kavisamelam (mushairas) there were poets more than the audience, everyone eager to speak his or her mind.

As for the rise of "fundamentalism in Mumbai, earlier known for the left and labour movement", Sanaya said, "Mumbai is a cosmopolitan, so there was no fear of sectarian and extremist movements. Only politicians exploit the lower sections of the city population."

With the rising urbanisation, English was dominating over local languages, thus weakening the roots of our literature, she said. But at the same time, an encouraging phenomenon was the "bumper crop" of special Diwali issue published yearly around 350 in number and reaching out to millions of readers.

Earlier, Saba Ikram introduced the host organisations. Ali Haider Malik conducted the proceedings. Prof Hasan Abid in his presidential discourse dilated upon the popularity of progressive writings.