In this deeply moving and fiercely intelligent episode of Parenthoot with Neha, celebrated poet, novelist, and activist Meena Kandasamy opens up about a part of her life she’s rarely spoken about publicly — motherhood. From breastfeeding on planes to bedtime stories about ocelots, Meena speaks with candid warmth about raising two young boys while navigating creative work, cultural friction, and the quiet revolutions of everyday parenting.

Together with host Neha, Meena reflects on the politics of parenting, the power of gentleness, and how her life — once immersed in global activism and resistance — has found new rhythm in school runs and pancakes. But make no mistake — the fire is still there. Whether she’s unpacking caste and coloniality or her children’s questions about Gaza, Meena’s parenting is as radical, layered, and bold as her writing.

🎧 Why You Should Listen

• You’re a creative or activist navigating parenting — and wondering how not to lose yourself in the process.
• You’ve ever felt guilt, fatigue, or quiet rage in your parenting journey and want to hear those feelings articulated honestly.
• You want to explore cross-cultural parenting, gender roles, and emotional regulation with nuance and humor.
• You’re curious about the personal side of a globally renowned writer known more for her political fire than domestic reflection.
• You want to hear two brilliant women discuss motherhood with no pretenses — just truth, tenderness, and the occasional spilled milk.

💬 Notable Quotes from Meena

• “I didn’t have a single maternal instinct in my body.”
• “Every child is five years off your career — or two books off your bookshelf.”
• “Never raise your voice against your children. Their memories are not erasable or editable.”
• “You can’t come back from livestreamed genocide — and our children know it.”

🛠️ Practical Takeaways for Listeners

• Don’t outsource your emotional regulation to your kids. Meena’s emphasis on calm, even in chaos, is a masterclass in gentle parenting.
• Parenthood doesn’t erase your fire. It just redirects it. Her political conversations with her kids are a reminder that little ears are ready for big ideas.
• Rituals matter. Whether it’s bedtime storytelling or weekend prawns, Meena shows how small acts of consistency create deep connection.
• Structure helps. Her cross-cultural household demonstrates the value of rhythm and rules — even when they clash with creative chaos.
• Redefine ambition. Not every season is for writing novels — sometimes it’s for poetry, or pancakes. And that’s okay.
• Let kids grow political. Engage them in real-world issues early — they’re more ready than we think.

👩🏽‍🎨 About the Guest

Dr. Meena Kandasamy is an acclaimed poet, novelist, translator, and activist whose work boldly confronts caste, gender, patriarchy, and violence. A two-time finalist for the International Booker Prize and longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, her writing is known for its fierce lyrical clarity and unapologetic politics.

She’s the author of When I Hit You, The Gypsy Goddess, Touch, Ms. Militancy, and more. Her essays and poems have appeared in The Guardian, Granta, The White Review, and The New York Times. A former Charles Wallace India Trust Fellow, she splits her time between India and Europe, raising two children with radical tenderness — and no sugar.

🔗 Follow Meena:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.a.n.d.a.s.a.m.y/
• Website: https://www.kandasamy.co.uk

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