The publication of a quartet of books featuring the remarkable lives of four South Asian sportswomen, including PT Usha and Bhakti Sharma, was announced by the publishing house AdiDev Press on Tuesday.
Pervin Saket, a writer and poet from Pune, is the author of the beautifully illustrated box set titled "Women in Sports." It features the mountaineer Arunima Sinha, the open-water swimmer Bhakti Sharma, the sharpshooters Chandro and Prakashi Tomar, and the athlete PT Usha on the topics of "Adaptability," "Resilience," "Transformation," and "Trust."
The set is a part of the publishing company's 'Learning To Be' collection, which also includes board books on the biographies and philosophies of Indian saints and trailblazing women in science.
"I enjoyed working on the stories of these inspiring sports women. They illustrate the ways in which the human spirit can overcome all kinds of obstacles — including the body. These women have pushed themselves to not just win medals and accolades, but to overcome societal taboos and challenges. They are our hope and our pride," said Saket in a statement.
Her past works include the poetry collection "A Tinge of Turmeric" and "Urmila," which is a reworking of a mythical story of love and longing.
Each book in the series has a straightforward narrative and has been illustrated by a different South Asian illustrator, allowing kids to experience a variety of artistic approaches. Each book also features a historical timeline that depicts the protagonist's journey and an uplifting message at the end.
AdiDev Press founder and editorial chief Chitwan Mittal expressed his hope that these books would encourage future generations of children to follow their passions, face their anxieties, and be open to change and adaptation when faced with difficulties. The set is currently for sale at both offline and online outlets for Rs 1,500.
