“I think the most overlooked and common injustice towards women is the normalisation of sexist behaviour,” shares Saisha Uttamchandani. “People tend to blame women for the way men treat them, pushing the narrative that men aren’t capable of changing and that ‘boys will be boys’. This not only shames women, but also reduces men to the stereotype that they’re incapable of controlling themselves.” These ideas form the basis of her poetry and art collection—a body of work that tackles issues society often avoids, from catcalling to the sexualisation of young girls. “I write about what people hesitate to say out loud,” she explains. “Because sometimes, silence is the loudest part of the problem.”
 

One moment that deeply impacted her was a powerful campaign by the NGO SNEHA. “I saw this video by director Vijay Veermal—it showed women wearing masks during the pandemic to stay safe from the virus. But when they removed their masks, you saw bruises on their faces. It hit me hard. These women were protected from COVID-19, but not from abuse in their own homes.” During the lockdown, she felt overwhelmed by the chaos around her—but when she saw SNEHA’s campaign, something clicked. “I started reading more, listening to stories of women, and I just had to start writing. One poem became many, because there was just so much that needed to be said.” Her work became both an outlet and a platform, giving voice to women’s lived experiences.

“I dedicate these poems to the victims, to the survivors, to every woman who has ever faced injustice just because of her gender,” she says. “Even if we help one woman escape a personal hell, that’s still one life changed.” Through vivid imagery and emotional honesty, her poems aim to spark conversations about gender-based violence, societal expectations, and hidden suffering. “Art has the power to heal and to provoke,” she reflects. “If we can’t talk about these things openly, how will they ever change?” Her collection doesn’t claim to have all the answers—but it demands we stop looking away.