In her essay “A Room of One’s Own,” Virginia Woolf famously argued that female writers need both financial independence and a space of their own to flourish creatively. One thing she missed out on, perhaps, was readers who facilitate the works of female literary profoundness. As a result, throughout history, we can see examples of women adopting male pseudonyms to achieve the bare minimum respect of having their works published.
Launched in August 2023 by a team from Swayong, an organisation focused on dismantling social injustices through storytelling, Read and Resist has rapidly become a platform for literary exploration and social advocacy.
Books like Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” are not only read but critically analysed in this book club. With a membership of thirty-four dedicated individuals, Read & Resist has hosted thirteen monthly meetings so far, diving into feminist literature and illuminating social injustices through the voices of writers worldwide.
This August, we celebrated our one-year anniversary—not merely as a book club, but as a celebration of ideas and discourse. It was an event that honoured the power of conversation, the sharing of perspectives, and the community we’ve cultivated around books and open dialogue.
Each month, the club nominates both a Bangla and an English book, providing members the choice to explore either or both. Recent reads include Against White Feminism by Rafia Zakaria and A World of Three Zeroes by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which offer distinct yet interconnected perspectives on contemporary social issues.
Additionally, we celebrate a range of authors from both classic and new-age backgrounds. Bengali writers such as Begum Rokeya, Nilima Ibrahim, Nabaneeta Dev Sen, and Wakila Tabassum Mumu join the lineup, alongside English-language icons Virginia Woolf, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margaret Atwood, Oriana Fallaci, and Sylvia Plath.
Meetings take place in vibrant spaces around Dhaka, including cafes, parks, and even the Ekushey Boi Mela. Readers from all over the city bring a copy of the month’s read, either a hardcopy or e-book, to share their reflections.
Discussions span topics from Palestine to religious mythologies and feminism, probing the authors’ perspectives and broader social themes. Each session encourages attendees to read passages aloud, sparking a rich exchange of ideas and interpretations.
For instance, recent reads offered a captivating mix:
● Ga te gaali fa te feminist!: A collection of powerful essays by Owakila Tabassum Mumu that challenge social norms and celebrate women’s resilience in Bangladesh.
● Rumours of Spring: A Girlhood in Kashmir: A poignant memoir by Farah Bashir capturing the complex realities of growing up amidst conflict in Kashmir.
● The Colossus and Other Poems by Sylvia Plath: An evocative collection that delves into identity, depression, and the intricacies of womanhood.
Readers also contribute book reviews, adding depth to our understanding and promoting dialogue around the literary work discussed. “The discussions we had around depression, poetry, and female writers, especially Emily Dickinson, were inspiring. I loved hearing diverse voices and perspectives,” shared one member. Another reader reflected on Plath’s work: “The poems felt like black and white surrealist paintings, blending desolation with a distant glimmer of hope.” At the heart of Read & Resist is our commitment to fostering a judgement-free space for open dialogue. Whether dissecting ideologies or processing the realities portrayed within a book, every voice is valued. In an era of lowered attention spans, Read and Resist aspires to create a more inclusive, compassionate world—one page at a time.