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By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief
Sangeetha Shinde has spent decades telling the stories of those whose voices are rarely heard. As a prolific Indian journalist and author, her latest novel, The Unseen Goddess, is a powerful testament to her lifelong commitment to shedding light on the struggles and triumphs of marginalized women. Released on International Women’s Day 2025, the book explores the life of Madhuri, a young girl from the slums of Chennai, capturing the resilience, suffering, and ultimately, the strength of women often unseen by society.
“I wanted to put a human face to the suffering, to the bravery, to the courage, and to the resilience of these women,” says Shinde. “They endure unimaginable hardship, and yet they persevere. Their stories deserve to be told.”
Shinde’s journey as a writer began early. At the age of 14, she won a national essay contest on world peace. Though she never intended to become an author, writing became her way of understanding the world. Growing up in a small town in the mountains of South India, she found herself drawn to storytelling, first as a form of personal expression and later as a tool for advocacy. Her journalism career has taken her across the globe, holding editorial positions with The Times of India, Living Well Magazine, and Aspire Magazine, among others. But it is through her books that she has made the deepest impact.
Her latest work, The Unseen Goddess, is inspired by a real woman she met while living in Chennai. One day, while looking for a housekeeper, Shinde was introduced to a woman with a warm smile and quiet grace. She hired her on the spot, unaware that this simple decision would shape a novel years later.
“I made her a cup of tea and handed it to her in one of my best China mugs,” Shinde recalls. “She looked at it and said, ‘I don’t want to pollute it. May I use my own cup?’ She ran downstairs and returned with a cracked plastic mug. I was horrified. Here was a human being who genuinely believed that her mere touch could make something impure.”
This moment was a turning point. Over time, as the woman shared more of her life story, Shinde became acutely aware of how deeply ingrained social hierarchies shape the lives of India’s poorest women. Her housekeeper had been bought and sold three times. She lived in an eight-by-ten-foot shack, walked miles for water, and never had the luxury of imagining a different future. Yet, despite her hardships, she exuded a quiet dignity and generosity that left a lasting impact.
“She was the most beautiful, gracious, and kind-hearted person I had ever met,” Shinde says. “And yet, society saw her as invisible. I needed to tell her story—not just for her, but for all the women like her.”
Shinde has long been a fierce advocate for women’s rights, particularly in India, where gender inequality, domestic violence, and economic hardship continue to oppress millions. Her previous book, The Naked Indian Woman, explored the realities of domestic abuse, drawing from both personal experience and the testimonies of women she interviewed. In The Unseen Goddess, she brings a similar depth of understanding, but this time through the lens of fiction, blending real-world struggles with the transformative power of storytelling.
The book’s title, The Unseen Goddess, reflects Shinde’s belief that strength and divinity reside in every woman, even those society chooses to ignore. “These women are the backbone of the world, yet they go unnoticed,” she says. “The title is both a tribute and a challenge—to see them, to acknowledge them, and to recognize their power.”
Beyond her writing, Shinde has dedicated herself to empowering women globally. She has conducted workshops on creative writing and women's rights, spoken at European conferences on gender equality, and worked with survivors of abuse. Her activism has earned her numerous accolades, including the South Indian “Most Inspirational Woman of the Year” award in 2019.
While The Unseen Goddess is rooted in the struggles of Indian women, Shinde is quick to point out that the themes of oppression and resilience are universal. “I’ve lived in Europe, in the UK, in Turkey. I’ve traveled extensively. And everywhere, I’ve found the same story—women who suffer in silence, who endure because they have no choice, who survive against all odds. This isn’t just an Indian issue. It’s a global issue.”
Her goal with this book is not just to tell a compelling story but to spark a conversation. She hopes readers will see themselves in Madhuri, in her struggles and triumphs, and be inspired to take action in their own communities.
“I want people to read this and ask themselves, ‘What can I do?’” she says. “Because change begins with awareness, with understanding, and ultimately, with action.”
For those eager to dive into The Unseen Goddess, the book is now available on Amazon and at major retailers. Shinde’s work is a poignant reminder that behind every statistic, every headline, there is a human story waiting to be told. And through her writing, she ensures that these stories, and the women who live them, are never truly unseen.
