Bipathu and a Very Big Dream

Bipathu and a Very Big Dream addresses BIG themes of gender bias, inclusivity of people with disabilities, and power imbalance based on economic class all without dwelling on them. The story is set in a village in Kerala where Hindus and Muslims coexist within the Malayali identity. Bipathu is poor, but she is not without agency. She is realistic but also optimistic. Anita Nair’s writing is nuanced and gentle. She surfaces societal bias and draws on the reader’s empathy.