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Former Indian diplomat Lakshmi Puri has made significant contributions to gender equality and sustainable development. Her debut novel, titled “Swallowing the Sun,” resonates with UN values and emphasizes the importance of empowering women.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed praised Puri’s leadership, highlighting her work in integrating gender perspectives into the Sustainable Development Goals.
Puri’s “work shows that empowering women is not just a goal but a crucial part of sustainable development,” Mohammed said in a video message at a side event titled ‘Civilizational values and the UN: Women’s Resilience and Empowerment’ held in the UN Headquarters on Monday.
In the novel, Puri explores themes of coming of age, epic love, and transformative youth power, all while championing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Puri encourages women and girls to be truth-seeking, justice-seeking, and to rise above their circumstances and break boundaries, just like the central character, Malati. Her novel reflects her deep belief in creating a better world, drawing from personal historical stories and the UN Charter’s purpose.
