Author R Seshasayee Discusses New Book at MOP Vaishnav College for Women

M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women in Chennai hosted author and Asian Paints chairman R Seshasayee on Thursday to discuss his second published book, 'The Grammar of Silence'. The interactive session was organised jointly by the college's Library and Digital Resource Centre and Pegasus, the student book club.

The book, published by Rupa Publications India, is a work of fiction spanning five centuries. It traces the lives of three women born across distinct castes and classes who fight for their empowerment against entrenched patriarchal structures.

Welcoming the guest speaker, college principal Archna Prasad highlighted the purpose behind the Author Speak initiative. She noted that the event, which has been running for a couple of years, is designed to encourage students to read and inspire them to pursue writing. Prasad added that connecting with Seshasayee provided a fitting start to the Author Speak sessions for the current academic year.

During the event, members of the Pegasus book club anchored the discussion with questions regarding the author's transition from his background as a Chartered Accountant to creative writing, alongside specific themes explored in the novel.

Elaborating on the book's title, Seshasayee explained that the silence represents how women historically adhered to predefined roles without protest due to societal rules and regulations. He stated that the term was used figuratively, while the core narrative focuses on the three protagonists fighting to make their voices heard. He also noted that he traced the social and cultural history of Tamil Nadu to ensure the book remained contextually grounded.

In his address to the students, Seshasayee urged them to maintain a curiosity to learn throughout their lives, describing it as a key factor that differentiates success from failure. He further emphasised the importance of female independence, stating that education delivers economic freedom, which ultimately provides women with agency.