World unsafe for solo women travellers, a myth: Ex Chess champ

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 here 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 chess player describes her trip last summer whose
itinerary covered 10 countries.
"I began backpacking inside India to the South and Rajasthan and last summer after saving up a little money went on a trip to Europe and covered 10 countries -- UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland," she said.

Beniwal said living in London she feels secure about walking on the roads at odd hours and even travelling solo and wants girls in India, especially her home state Haryana to feel the same.
"I wish girls on the streets of Rohtak too can experience the sense of freedom," she said.
Beniwal said she opted to write in Hindi because she wanted the common people read her and be encouraged to go on similar trips and understand how easy it was to travel the world.
The former Chess champion has a degree in English Honours from Miranda College, Delhi University and a degree in law besides a masters in English literature.

Noted journalist Ravish Kumar and Hindi author Anuradha were also present at the Beniwal's book launch here yesterday.