Title – ‘Sigma Woman’
Author – Sangeeta Gupta
Genre – Memoir
Publisher – Prithvi Fine Art & Cultural Centre
Pages – 348
Cost – Paperback – INR 600
Writing a memoir is an arduous endeavor. It requires profound introspection. The very act of delving into one’s past, confronting memories, and presenting them in coherent, engaging prose is a task that requires both emotional resilience and literary skill. Both of which, the author Sangeeta Gupta has in plenty. Her artistic pursuits overshadow her official role as chief income tax commissioner, revealing a soul deeply immersed in the beauty and complexities of the creative world. Her contributions to literature and the arts have garnered widespread admiration, making her a celebrated figure in various circles. But she doesn’t let that hang heavy on her. As she mentions in the prologue – ‘Self discovery is an ongoing process’, and then again, at the end, her epilogue, she shares – ‘We are imperfect and the sooner we realise this, the better. The acceptance of things as they are is the greatest freedom.’ The profundity of her line, that ‘fear of failure takes away the joy of exploring life,’ rings true for all, and sums up her own journey.
The book is neatly divided into segments, about her formative years, the important people whose influence gave direction to the course of her life, her encounter with the many Greats like Mother Teresa, legendry writers, poets, her spiritual guide, times spent with her son. Her narrative weaves back and forth in time, revisiting episodes as required. Her memories of her more recent visits to Dhaka are almost poetic. Her traits that require emulating – on how to make the most of the hours in a day, to not dwell too much on the obstacles and keep on pursuing the goals, to not get complacent and keep on shifting the goal post.
‘Sigma Woman’ is an easy read – written in largish font, the language is conversational, colloquial, like Sangeeta is talking about her life in a fire-side chat with her friend, whom she trusts with all the intimate details, the precious memories, even the difficult times. Hindi and English have different rules of grammar and syntax. Translating thoughts in another language can sometimes mess the order of words and misplace the odd preposition or two. This factor, however does not diminish the engaging narrative. It also inspires one to simply pick up the pen and write, without getting entangled in the web of grammar and vocabulary. Just write. For as Sangeeta Gupta shares, writing about your own life is a cathartic process, and a process of self-discovery.
When asked about the need to write her memoirs so early in her life, as she is yet young and has many more higher goals to achieve, Sangeeta Gupta replied, “It needed to be done, and life is uncertain.” That sums up who Sangeeta Gupta is, always ahead of the game, and never a minute to waste.
