Prioritise gender justice, not gender equality: Transgender poet Vijayarajamallika

Thiruvananthapuram: Reciting a poem from her latest poetry collection at the fourth edition of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL), transgender poet Vijayarajamallika shared her pride in taking the adventurous yet complex step of writing from one's own identity. 

Vijayarajamallika, who began writing poetry in her seventh grade, said that she could not connect with what she had read in earlier times. “Whatever I read back then were works confined within gender binaries. Poems reflecting my identity were very few in Malayalam. That is why I believe that it is my duty to write about the lives of other genders like me,” she said.

Expressing her view on the social notions surrounding gender binaries, Vijayarajamallika opined that she is not in favour of the term gender equality and called for the need to prioritize gender justice.

The session on ‘My Poetry Worlds’ also witnessed compelling interactions by renowned poets K Rajagopal and Sebastian, who recalled the experiences of their literary lives.

Speaking at the session, Rajagopal said, "I do not believe in the concept of living in one world and writing in another separate world of poetry." He also recited one of his poems 'Maravi Kuthunna Millu' amid the talks.

Ahead of reciting his poems 'Swargeeyam' 'Anantharam' and 'Krishi', Sebastian opined that his reading has enabled him to understand the new changes and reforms taking place in  contemporary poetry.

"In this darkening world, it is a handful of different experiences that allowed me to move forward in poetry," he added.