Senior journalist Dr. Vandana Shukla’s short story collection ‘Unclaimed’ launched at Chandigarh Press Club; View Pics
Book explores patriarchy, gender-based violence and hidden complexities of everyday life
By Prabh Sidhu
Chandigarh, August 22, 2026: The short story collection ‘Unclaimed’ by senior journalist Dr Vandana Shukla was launched at the Chandigarh Press Club on Saturday in the presence of writers, academics, journalists, family members and friends.
The collection comprises 10 short stories that explore human relationships, gender politics, patriarchy and the often-hidden tensions within families and society. The stories examine how seemingly ordinary situations can reveal deeper conflicts and uncomfortable realities.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Emeritus and former Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at Panjab University, Pam Rajput, said Unclaimed offers a powerful literary exploration of how patriarchy shapes, controls and, at times, violates women's lives across different sections and generations of Indian society.
She said that while each story stands independently, together they present a disturbing picture of gender-based violence—not only in its visible physical forms but also through the quieter forms of control and discrimination that can exist within homes, marriages, families and institutions.
Rajput congratulated Dr Shukla for addressing these complex subjects through the short-story format with sensitivity and depth.
In a conversation with Dr Shukla, author Suparna-Saraswati Puri, known for Adi Shankara, Advaita and You, described the collection as both courageous and emotionally engaging. She said each of the 10 stories raises questions that encourage readers to examine what is considered “normal” and why.
Stories examine the hidden side of social norms
According to the book's description, Unclaimed does not fit easily into any single predetermined category. The stories focus on aspects of human complexity that are often dismissed by polite society or confined to private conversations.
The narratives move through themes including shame and liberation, intimacy, personal boundaries and the ways in which social expectations influence individual lives.
The collection also examines the cultural, feudal and class tensions underlying gender politics in India. It considers how migration and modernity may appear to bring social change while deeper attitudes and power structures can continue beneath the surface.
Rather than offering straightforward resolutions, the stories explore moments of conflict and transgression before returning to the outward appearance of normality.
About the author
Dr Vandana Shukla has been associated with print media for more than two decades and writes on art, culture and gender-related issues. Her interests also include travel, world poetry and music.
Her earlier work, A Monk Postpones Nirvana, published in 2018, was based on her study of social transformation in the Ladakh region. The study was sponsored by the Fetzer Institute, based in Michigan, US.
She holds a PhD from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) for her multidisciplinary research on the history of communalism in the Indian subcontinent and literature emerging around the Partition of India.
Her forthcoming book documents the violent journeys of young people in the conflict region of Jammu and Kashmir. Unclaimed, published by The Browser, is available through major bookstores and online platforms including Amazon.
The launch was also attended by author, motivational speaker and former civil servant Vivek Atray, and author and former head of the English Department at Panjab University, Manju Jaidka, among others.