Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival Unveils “Pink Ink,” Fostering Dialogue on Women’s Role in Media

Kolkata, January 13, 2025: The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2025 featured an engaging session titled “Pink Ink”, moderated by author and journalist Sandip Roy, with distinguished panelists Monideepa Banerjie and Neha Dixit. The discussion explored the challenges and triumphs of women in Indian media, revealing how gender has shaped their careers and the broader landscape of journalism.

Monideepa Banerjie, who’s had an illustrious career in the media, when asked if she’s ever had to cover “feminine stories” in particular, she said. “I remember my first assignment was at the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy. I had a wonderful experience there and believe there must be men out there who want to cover stories like this but can’t because they’re pushed towards women.”

Neha Dixit, reflecting on her journey, emphasized how the media often neglects stories of grassroots women. In her book, The Many Lives of Syeda X, she portrays the life of a working-class woman who remains disconnected from the headlines. “Syeda doesn’t want to watch the news because it’s irrelevant to her daily struggles,” Dixit explained.

Through her investigative lens, Dixit exposed the systemic undervaluation of women’s contributions and the stereotypical representation they face, such as being reduced to discussions on grocery during the Union Budget coverage. However, she also added, “Doing one story on maternal mortality or menstruation doesn’t make you a champion of women’s stories either, we need greater intersectionality.” Monideepa Banerjie expressed cautious optimism, citing initiatives like West Bengal’s Laxmir Bhandar, which empowered women to vote independently of family influence.

When asked on what’s next, Dixit noted, “The gap between journalism and content is thinning. The average person can’t differentiate between a YouTube video and a journalistic report. Increasingly, stories are being done around keywords, not public interest.” Both panelists stressed on the importance of inclusive representation, with Dixit emphasizing, “Using women as sources doesn’t automatically make a story about women.”