jaipur sister jesme was a wary woman when the english version of her controversial autobiography amen an autobiography of a nun an eyeopener on alleged corrupt practices within the catholic church was launched last year but at the jaipur literature festival she was a remarkably atease nun who in a steady voice read sections from her book where she detailed the sexual abuse she facedc meamy raphael had been sister jesme for 33 years before she finally quit in august 2008 now 53 she doesnt wear the habit anymore and appeared before a spellbound audience in a green salwarkameez gold bangle chain and earrings and a mobile phone dangling from her neck but shes still sister jesme im not an exnun i am a nun she declares confidently a girl can be a sister even outside the convent she says to spontaneous applauseshe has always been outspoken she says protesting against church practices even as a junior nun at the congregation of mother carmel though denied positions of responsibility within the church she served as principal at st marys college thrissur she didnt want to leave the convent but decided to when authorities threatened to have a psychiatrist examine hershe had considered it her duty to reveal all and demand a renovation sic she has described in her book how a senior nun had allegedly tried to seduce her by leaving love letters in her religious books and how she had to succumb to the alleged overtures of a priest amen available in english malayalam and now hindi is a hit with the first malayalam edition going into 11 reprints in 10 monthsjesme has had a busy time since she quit shes been writing articles addressing gatherings has been asked by the communist party to contest elections a request she declined and last october was invited to read at the frankfurt book fairi was a little nervous before but then jesus did this she says displaying a thumbsup sign