Ratna's Nostalgic Bookstore Return

Ratna Manucha, a writer, poet, and educationist, expressed her honour and nostalgia at returning to The English Book Depot, where her family's five generations have shopped for books. She shared fond memories of the store's staff and her long-standing connection to the place, which inspired her to attend their first hybrid meet-and-greet event. Despite personal challenges, including her granddaughter Tara's illness caused by pollution, Ratna was eager to engage with the audience and discuss her journey as a writer and educator.

Embracing Personal Communication Over Texts

Ratna discussed her book "Unfiltered: The Little Things," which explores Indian quirkiness through short articles. She read an excerpt about her experience with emojis, highlighting her initial misunderstanding of their meanings. Ratna expressed her preference for personal communication over WhatsApp groups, criticising the trend of sending generic messages devoid of warmth or depth. She emphasised the importance of meaningful connections and the value of longer, more thoughtful messages.

Ratna's Humorous and Civic Insights

Ratna shared two humorous stories, the first about the bond between women friends and the second a spoof on "Confessions of a Shopaholic" that reflects on modern consumer culture. She expressed concern about Dehradun's transformation and the decline in civic consciousness, noting that she can only write effectively when in Dehradun. The discussion concluded with Ratna sharing her strategy of not sharing phone numbers with shops to avoid receiving promotional messages.

Body Positivity Through Storytelling

Ratna shared her experience of writing a story about alopecia for an anthology titled "Hug Yourself," which focuses on body positivity for young adults. She read excerpts from the story, which centres around a character named Ramona who struggles with hair loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ratna emphasised the importance of acceptance and self-validation, drawing on her experiences with height and thinness as a child. She highlighted the role of reading in shaping her aspirations and encouraged parents to cultivate a reading habit in their children by serving as role models themselves. The session concluded with participants agreeing with Ratna's views on the importance of reading and sharing personal experiences about books.