A source of inspiration for writing and an opportunity to right a wrong. – What does the Paramisara club mean to Romani women writers?
At the beginning of January, Prague hosted a meeting of the Paramisara literary club, which brings together Romani writers. The club is part of Slovo 21’s efforts to support the flourishing of the Romani language and the original work of authors, who are given the opportunity to gather inspiration as well as useful skills. During the January meeting, the writers discussed their plans for the new year, including a newly prepared book.
The meeting room at the Slovo 21 office feels welcoming on this January Saturday morning. Tables are filling up with plates of open-faced sandwiches. The air smells of coffee, which the first few arrivals, trickling in slowly, are pouring into white mugs. With every new face that appears in the doorway, a wave of greetings erupts. A series of hugs and joyful shouts across the table signal excitement for today’s gathering. It takes a while for everyone to settle down and for the official program to begin. The last of the greetings and quick catch-ups must die down first.
"For me, it’s great just because we get together, like today. You get so much energy and desire to keep writing from it," says writer Ilona Ferková, reflecting on the joy of time spent together. "Just look at today, how many ideas were shared. It’s inspiration for writing. And we also just love seeing each other," she smiles.
The Paramisara club meeting slowly shifted from its lively start to the official program. One by one, they began to go through plans and projects for the new calendar year, which, it seems, will not be short on ideas.
Supporting Romani authors is an important step in the effort to develop the Romani language. Slovo 21 aims to offer a helping hand where talented Romani writers lack the support for full creative development. It allows them to share their work and experiences in a collective, as well as draw inspiration from established creators.
"I like that we can write in our mother tongue. Because that language is partially disappearing, and to revive it, we need to keep writing and educating ourselves," adds Eva Kropiwnická, who was present today.
Meetings like today’s help organize future plans and coordinate the writers on their upcoming projects.
Romani studies expert Markéta Hajská from the Faculty of Arts at Charles University opens the main item on today’s agenda: the newly planned book. She is here today in the role of editor for the upcoming publication. There is an atmosphere of attentive anticipation around the table. The last published collection, Fameľija nadevše (2024), mapped issues of family joys and sorrows in fifteen short stories. The one we are so eagerly planning today returns to a topic long neglected in the public space: forced sterilizations, which thousands of Romani women underwent without informed consent. All of the writers present today nod resolutely when asked if they want to participate in the book's preparation.
"I decided right from the start that I wanted to be a part of this because it also touches on a case in my own family. It is necessary to address this so that the widest possible public learns about the injustice that was carried out against Romani women for years without their knowledge," says one of the authors present, Květoslava Podhradská, confirming her decision.
"We want to create a document about emotions," Markéta clarifies regarding the editorial intent. "The short stories will process real-life accounts, and we will try to capture the world of these women authentically, without deviating from the truth. We are interested in the intimacy of their inner experience," she summarizes the vision for the book. The writers gradually come forward with their own ideas, commenting on whether they know a woman whose story they would like to use. The reality of similar cases in their immediate circles seems to touch each of them. "It should be told, because those women were deeply harmed. At the time, they may have felt defenseless, and over time, humiliated. That is what I think—that it was such a humiliation," adds Eva Kropiwnická regarding the intention to address the topic of forced sterilizations.
The meeting is slowly drawing to a close. Before heading out for lunch together, each woman is given space to share her current projects and ideas. They share their creative inspirations and blocks with the others. They talk about agreements with publishers and the topics they are currently working on.
"Slovo 21 has provided all members with professional support," adds Eva Danišová with a smile. "And the upcoming book? Many of us Romani women have experience with this topic. Now we have been given the opportunity to talk about it. And to somehow right that wrong."
