It's a myth that the world is unsafe for women travelling alone: Chess champ Anuradha Beniwal

Former National chess champion Anuradha Beniwal has penned her debut book in Hindi, which recounts her experiences of travel to 10 countries in Europe in an under Rs 1 lakh budget. The 30-year-old who was ranked number two in the country at the age of 7 has penned her dynamic travel journey in the book “Aazadi Mera Brand,” which was launched in New Delhi at ongoing New Delhi World Book Fair.

Born in Meham near Rohtak into a middle-class family, Beniwal was home schooled and after being introduced to chess by her professor father at an early age participated in many competitions and became a world champion. In her book published by Rajkamal Prakashan she writes about building up a career as a professional chess coach based in London and is a chess master at several British clubs.

“My book is about wanderlust, and I want to expose the myth that Europe is expensive and the world unsafe to travel for women” said Beniwal who was accompanied by her parents and cousins at the Book Fair. “I wish that women, not the rich women who go to hotels with swimming pools, but those from the lower middle class also could travel outside and understand how cheap it is to travel the entire world.

“They would know how kind, beautiful and safe the world is. So, this book is all about encouraging the common people,” she said. As a writer she also advocates for freedom of women and wants women to take the risk of travelling the world and fight the existing stereotypes which dissuade them from venturing into the “unsafe world outside.”

“The world is not very safe for women and not ideal but that doesn’t mean they should remain in their home only. When a woman stands in a bus stop alone it is unsafe for her, but once 50 ladies stand in a bus-stop together they are safe. So, women should come out to make the country safer for themselves,” Beniwal said.