The launch of Twinkle Khanna's much-anticipated book, 'Mrs Funnybones Returns', was marked by a vibrant celebration of womanhood. The exclusive, all-women gathering set a tone of camaraderie and candid conversation, with floral arrangements welcoming the guests.
A Candid Conversation on Womanhood and Stereotypes
The highlight of the evening was a freewheeling chat between author Twinkle Khanna and stand-up comic Neeti Palta. They delved into topics ranging from motherhood and ageing to the essence of being a woman. Dismissing the cliché of women being each other's rivals, Twinkle offered a powerful perspective.
"I don't believe that women are women's enemies," she stated. She painted a vivid picture of support, saying that when a woman climbs the ladder of success, it is often other women—sisters, mothers, helpers, and grandmas—who are holding the ladder steady. "There is sisterhood," she affirmed.
Reflecting on societal conditioning, Twinkle noted how women are expected to constantly filter themselves. "It's so much conditioning. We've grown up with this notion of how we have to look and behave," she said. However, in a moment of trademark self-deprecating humour, she added, "I'm sitting here sucking in my stomach and wearing high heels so there goes!"
The Evolution of Motherhood and the Writing Process
Twinkle Khanna shared her insights on how the role of a mother has transformed dramatically. "Motherhood today is very different," she observed. She described the modern mother as a multi-hyphenate professional for her children: "a psychologist, a trainer, a nutritionist, a chef, an educator, and, most importantly, their screen monitors." She humorously contrasted this with previous generations, remarking, "I think our mothers had it easier, they threw us in the world and we either learnt or were killed by the wolves or we became the wolves."
On her creative process for the sequel, written a decade after the first book, Twinkle revealed a shift from her younger days. She no longer waits for a muse at her desk. "Now I'm too old and my neck starts hurting," she joked. Instead, ideas come during everyday activities like walking the dog or tending to plants. "My brightest idea came when I was pushing the sofa – my back gave out but my brain worked," she shared.
The Liberating Joy of Ageing
Twinkle was refreshingly open about the positives of growing older. She spoke about ageing as a period of liberation rather than decline. "We worry so much about things declining as we age, we don’t realise there is so much that is open to us," she said.
She contrasted her current self-assurance with the anxieties of youth. "I spent so much of my youth worrying about relationships, love, and insecurities about the way I look. I don't feel those things now," she stated, highlighting the freedom that comes with experience and self-acceptance.
The guest list for the event included notable personalities such as Sharmila Tagore, Laila Tyabji, Rinke Khanna, Monika Halan, Chiki Sarkar, and Geeta Chandran, among others. The evening concluded with Twinkle interacting with fans and signing copies of her new book, cementing the event as a testament to female solidarity and intellectual exchange.
