Aurat Durbar, the Court of Women: Writings by Women of South Asian Origin

Britta Santowski is a freelance writer in Victoria, B.C.

The English translation of aurat durbar is “the court of women.”
This book cleverly “redefines the words aurat (commonly used to denote
a state of powerlessness) and durbar (commonly used for the court of a
male monarchy) to reflect the self-empowerment of women.”
Unfortunately, the collection’s captivating cover design—a detail
from Anoli Perera’s “Untitled” painting—bears little relation to
its generally mediocre and clichéd contents (10 short stories, about 50
poems, four essays, and one experimental piece by the editor). Even the
glossary of Indian terms is too inconsistent, in terms of selection, to
be really useful.

To be fair, there are a few exceptional pieces. In language both poetic
and powerful, Ramabai Espinet explores boundaries and their breaking
points in her short story “Cane in Arrow,” her poem “A Piece of
Indian Junk,” and her essay “Dare to Bare” (about the woman who
walked topless through the streets of Guelph a few years ago). Equally
impressive are two poems, “The Echoing Song” and “Translucent
Dreams,” by Tshering Wangmo Dhompa.

Overall, though, the collection is a disappointment. Many of the
contributions are predictable (surprise endings and story twists can
easily be anticipated) and fail to develop a voice capable of
celebrating and empowering cultural and sexual difference.