In the august presence of director Anumita Dasgupta, Aparna Sen, Arpita Chatterjee and Sohag Sen, a session on Single Motherhood was organized at Oxford Bookstore, Kolkata.

The guests who were part of the upcoming Bengali film Bohomaan spoke clearly about their respective views on this topic.

The entire session was moderated by Sohag Sen.

Speaking at the event, Aparna Sen said “I have raised my two daughters as a single mother. I am aware of the importance of a father in a child’s life and I have never shied away from this fact. When my kids used to miss their father, they would tell me clearly. Konkona was very attached to me and when she got the chance to study in St. Stephen’s, I immediately sent her there. I believe that you need to set your kids free after a time”.

Arpita Chatterjee shed light on the fact that parents must divide the responsibilities at home. This will help them to work easily and also carry on with their lives in an easy manner.

Director Anumita Dasgupta pointed out that while many may speak about freedom of women, she felt that letting the child free after a certain age will only enable the women to become free. “My son is 22 and he is away due to his studies!! I have wasted 20 years of my life. Of course I have achieved many things but I had to toil hard to get those things” added the director.

Aparna Sen said “We are in the middle of the change happening around us. That is the reason we cannot understand whether marriage as an institution is necessary or whether becoming single mothers or fathers are good for us. This will take time. But what I will like to highlight is that this is an individual choice. Becoming a single mother and father comes with the challenge and when you want to become one, you will have to keep in mind that there will be challenges coming your way”.

Sohag Sen concluded the discussion by mentioning that changes were taking place in the society slowly. Single mothers are now been accepted much more than they were accepted earlier.

Priyanka Dutta