Thirty One Pandemic Letters of Loss & Love: NEW DELHI to / from NEW YORK

In a world which suddenly came to a grinding halt due to the pandemic of Covid 19 the intricate bonds of social life were torn asunder. The necessity of maintaining social distancing for a greater good to counter the illness led to isolation and anxiety for a number of people. Women’s lives were impacted far more than others’. In the confined spaces of their homes they became the primary source of both emotional and physical support. Most middle-class homes were converted to workplaces with members of the family including women working online. Long-time friends Bijayalaxmi Nanda and Sangita Misra started writing letters to each other by email in order to sustain their spirits during these difficult times. They belong to Odisha in India and met each other in Cuttack when they were thirteen years. Now at fifty-five years Bijayalaxmi lives in New Delhi India and Sangita lives in New York USA. The collection is the recent correspondence between them which spans a period of four months during the pandemic Covid 19. The surreal changes brought in by the pandemic in the everyday lives of women in the world is well captured in their exchanges. It weaves together stories of work children family and friends. There are reflections on poetry writings and politics too. The negotiating of their lives in the wake of a pandemic the significance of friendship between women the rich cultural context of the three cities which they traverse in their four decades of friendship – Cuttack New Delhi and New York – is laid down in a nuanced manner. The poignant tenderness and affirmation to life and living in their letters enhance the spirit of love and empathy for human bonding. The trajectory of loss and love is eloquently expressed. It will speak to every woman who has lived lost and loved. The book provides an in-depth understanding of the lives of women in their specific contexts and is a celebration of friendship between them.