Geetanjali Shree shows us why women’s stories matter more than ever.
Geetanjali Shree’s life is proof that the journey of a woman does not always need to follow society’s set patterns. Born in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, she did not come from a background where literature was the central theme of family discussions. Yet she gravitated toward books, words, and stories. Her decision to become a writer was not an easy one. Like many women, she faced skepticism, questions, and the subtle pressure of “why not something more practical?”
She pursued her education in history, earned her Master’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and eventually gave in to her first love — writing. What’s remarkable is that she didn’t rush the process. She took time to read, to listen, to understand, and then to find her own voice. That patience, which is often dismissed as delay, became her strength.
Struggles That Shaped Her
Choosing to write in Hindi also came with challenges. The publishing world leaned heavily toward English, and it took courage to believe that her voice in Hindi mattered. At the same time, she had to balance personal responsibilities and professional aspirations. Like many women, she had to prove that she could do both, without compromising either.
There were setbacks, moments of doubt, and times when recognition seemed far away. But Geetanjali Shree kept going. She built her literary presence slowly, publishing short stories and novels that began to catch attention.
Ret Samadhi: A Story of Women and Their Power
Her novel Ret Samadhi (translated into English as Tomb of Sand) became her most celebrated work. The book tells the story of an 80-year-old woman who, after her husband’s death, refuses to stay hidden in grief. Instead, she begins to live in a way that surprises everyone around her.
Through this character, Geetanjali Shree touches on something powerful — that women are not defined by their age, their marital status, or their roles in society. The woman in Ret Samadhi breaks stereotypes. She refuses to stay confined to what her children or society expect from her. She reclaims her life, explores new relationships, and even reopens old wounds from the partition of India and Pakistan.
At its core, Ret Samadhi is about women’s power — the power to choose, to redefine themselves, and to live fully, no matter what stage of life they are in. It shows that women don’t need permission to step into their strength. They already carry that strength within; they just need the courage to act on it.
A Global Recognition
In 2022, Tomb of Sand became the first Hindi-language book to win the International Booker Prize. For Geetanjali Shree, it was not just a personal victory but also a recognition of Indian literature and women’s voices. The world saw that stories told in Hindi, rooted in local realities yet universal in emotions, could stand tall on the global stage.
What makes her achievement even more special is that she didn’t chase fame or awards. She chased honesty in storytelling. And that honesty is what resonated across cultures and languages.
Lessons for Women Everywhere
Geetanjali Shree’s journey carries lessons for every woman who dreams but hesitates to take the first step.
- It’s never too late: Her protagonist in Ret Samadhi proves that age is not a barrier to new beginnings. Your dreams don’t come with an expiry date.
- Your voice matters: Writing in Hindi was not the popular choice, but it was her authentic one. Women, too, need to remember that their unique voice matters, even if the world doesn’t recognize it immediately.
- Courage is built slowly: She didn’t find success overnight. It came after years of writing, waiting, and persisting. The small steps matter as much as the big leaps.
Why She Inspires Work Well Womaniya
At Work Well Womaniya, we celebrate women who balance personal and professional lives, who fight self-doubt, and who push forward even when the world tells them to slow down. Geetanjali Shree embodies all of this. She reminds every mother, every homemaker, every dreamer, that your story is worth telling.
Her struggles are not just about becoming an author. They are about daring to be seen, daring to speak, and daring to live life on your own terms.
A Thought to Leave You With
Geetanjali Shree’s life and her work whisper the same message: Women are powerful, not because someone gives them power, but because they carry it within themselves. All it takes is the courage to step into it.
Geetanjali Shree is our Woman of the Week, and her journey is a reminder to every woman reading this: your story matters, and the world needs to hear it!