Post by : Saif Rahman

A new anthology, Bandaged Moments: Stories of Mental Health by Women Writers from Indian Languages, aims to deepen readers' understanding of mental health through poignant storytelling. Edited by Nabanita Sengupta and Nishi Pulugurtha, and published by Niyogi Books, this collection unites 26 narratives translated from 17 different Indian languages. The stories reveal that mental health transcends individual circumstances, highlighting its connections to social issues like poverty, gender norms, and cultural pressures.

Public discourse often portrays mental health merely through a clinical lens or overly positive narratives. This anthology offers a more nuanced view, illustrating how anguish, silence, and isolation can simmer beneath the surface of everyday lives. Unlike typical narratives that conclude with resolution, many stories here end in confusion, sadness, or lingering questions, reflecting the complexities of reality.

Within these narratives, characters grapple with emotional turmoil for various reasons. In Ferns in the Moonlight, a woman's feelings of invisibility stem from fractured relationships. Flying Fish tells of a man's descent into isolation following heartbreak, leading him to confront schizophrenia. Convert My Bad Karma to Good narrates the experience of a woman silenced by the fear and shame intertwined with marriage. Meanwhile, Story of Laughter poignantly depicts a character who uses humor as a mask for unshared pain.

The anthology also highlights the role of societal and familial pressures on mental health. For instance, in Sanjeevani, a young wife endures relentless humiliation linked to dowry demands, pushing her to contemplate suicide. Conversely, Bleak Noon explores the debilitating effects of poverty and forced marriage, culminating in a heartbreaking public breakdown.

These narratives reflect the often-overlooked social systems—patriarchy, economic hardship, and the absence of emotional support—that exacerbate mental distress in India. The characters frequently lack a trustworthy listener, turning silence into a pervasive form of suffering.

Several stories deliberately shun tidy conclusions. In Tajmahal, a character's humiliation leads to a tragic end from a minaret, while in Empty are the Houses of Seasons, the protagonist contemplates taking her life, yet the narrative ends without resolution, leaving the audience to grapple with her anguish and uncertainty. This approach renders the anthology authentic, transparent, and deeply honest, underscoring that healing is rarely straightforward.

Readers are encouraged to perceive mental health as the result of both internal struggles and external realities, urging a departure from simplistic advice like “stay strong” or “think positively.” Instead, the anthology advocates for listening, understanding, and recognizing the systemic changes society must undertake.

While the book may not provide quick solace, it creates a vital space for empathy. By amplifying diverse voices from various languages and regions, it emphasizes that mental health challenges are pervasive, profoundly human, and worthy of recognition and care.

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