Book release of Anuradha Beniwal: Author explains how and why ‘Azadi’ is her brand and belief

The book, replete with personal experiences of her wanderlust, also charts her growing career as a professional chess coach in London, where she has been for the last three years.

Her parents were part of today’s launch, where Beniwal read excerpts from the book, sang songs of her home state and talked about how she searched for herself, travelling to different countries, and discovered how freedom is the art of living.

“I hope my book is an inspiration for middle-class women to travel, experience and discover a brand-new world. I want them to not have fear, feel safe and live their dreams. I have reached here, because I got complete support from my parents. I believed in myself and respected my identity and choices,” reflects Beniwal, who says she is finding a new space for herself after ‘Azadi Mera Brand’.

The decision to write in Hindi came from the simple fact that she wanted to book to reach out to a wider audience, especially women, urging them to take a new journey. The book is also about the many faces and facets of freedom, and a hope that more women like her cherish it.

“The response of young girls and women to the book has been overwhelming. I get to connect with so many of them, and understand their life and thoughts. Though I now stay in London, I am connected to my roots. I recently went to my school and talked to the girls about my life, and how I too came from this place, but made a space for myself, and how it’s all possible.” Speaking of freedom, Beniwal talked about how it has to be found, and freedom is not about taking or giving.

“You can find it in anything – art, music, literature, sports, and academics. Called a voice of reason during the Jat agitation in Haryana, Beniwal says she had no political agenda or analytical thoughts, when she appealed to people to stop burning the cities, cutting trees, killing people…and also did some crowd funding for victims, supporting creative people who are writing,  performing, dancing for change.

As for change, Beniwal says we all can see a slow change, and her aim in the future is to accelerate change, “Old thoughts, symbols, pre-conceived notions have to change, and it’s a continuous process.”

As for the future, apart from chess, travelling, writing, Beniwal hopes to open a school in Rohtak for housewives, where they can go to study, “many of them were married off before they could finish their education. They want to learn, but have no space. They need to be guided, motivated and encouraged. This school, which will have a library and a computer centre, will be a model for Haryana and give many women the respect they deserve,” said Beniwal, who has a degree in law and English literature.