HER STORIES INDIAN WOMEN DOWN THE AGES (PB)

 Some were celebrated, Others vilified While
some were casually neglected Yet, the story of these women lived on
Her-Stories is a discussion of women from Indian history whose contributions
have been all but forgotten. These were poets, performers, warriors, saints,
philosophers, activists and more, yet we hardly remember their courage and
contributions. The time has come to bring their history to the fore. Their
stories describe desperate situations, ingenious strategies and brilliant
sparks of feminist consciousness. Rather than accounts of isolated ‘great
women’, these stories place at the centre the ordinary woman, in all her
splendid diversity, multifaceted struggle and achievement. The women profiled
were encouraged and supported by others—their achievements represent the
aspirations of many in the past, and provide inspiration for us in the
present. Cutting across several regions of India and presented in
chronological order from second millennium BCE, to the mid-nineteenth century
India, these are the stories of women who have been thinkers, doers, movers
and shakers who have subverted hierarchies, brought peace out of chaos and
survived despite routine devaluation. Philosopher Sulabha, philanthropist Vishakha,
fearless Uppalavanna, wandering bard Auvaiyar, justice maker Leima Laisna,
astronomer Khona, mountain queen Didda, radical poet Akkamahadevi, intrepid
Sultan Razia, martial artiste Unniyarcha, poet-saint Janabai, Gond Rani
Durgavati, historian Gulbadan, cultural ambassador Harkha, pepper queen
Abbakka, fakira Jahanara, brave Onake Obavva, Dalit rebel Nangeli,
dancer-diplomat Mahlaqa Bai Chanda, lion queen Jindan, Nawab Begum Qudsia,
sharpshooter Uda, guerrillera Hazrat Begum and feminist writer Tarabai
Shinde.