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Heroines: Powerful Indian Women of Myth and History
The idea of heroism in women is not easily defined. In men the notion is often associated with physical strength and extravagant bravery. Women’s heroism has tended to be of a very different nature, less easily categorized. All the women portrayed—Draupadi, Radha, Ambapali, Raziya Sultan, Meerabai, Jahanara, Laxmibai and Hazrat Mahal—share an unassailable belief in a cause, for which they are willing to fight to the death if need be. In every case this belief leads them to confrontation with a horrified patriarchy.In the book we meet lotus-eyed, dark-skinned Draupadi, dharma queen, whose story emerges almost three millennia ago; the goddess Radha who sacrificed societal respectability for a love that transgressed convention; Ambapali, a courtesan, who stepped out of the luxurious trappings of Vaishali to follow the Buddha and wrote a single, haunting poem on the evanescence of beauty and youth. Raziya, the battle-scarred warrior, who proudly claimed the title of Sultan, refusing its fragile feminine counterpart, Sultana; the courageous Meerabai who repudiated her patriarchal destiny as cloistered daughter-in-law of a Rajput clan; the gentle Mughal princess who claims the blessings of both Allah and the Prophet Muhammad and wishes ‘never to be forgotten�; Laxmibai, widow, patriot and martyr, who rides into legend and immortality fighting for her adopted son’s birthright; and Hazrat Mahal, courtesan, begum, and rebel queen, resolute till the very end in defying British attempts to seize her ex-husband’s kingdom.In these engrossing portraits, mythological characters from thousands of years ago walk companionably besides historical figures from more recent times. They rise to reclaim their rightful place in history. Daughters, wives, courtesans, mothers, queens, goddesses, warriors—heroines.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 61 reviews
December 3, 2019
These are stories of eight selected women from Indian myth, legend and history - Draupadi, the common wife of the five Pandavas; Radha, Krishna's celebrated lady love; Ambapali, the courtesan-turned-Buddhist-nun of Vaishali; Raziya Sultan, the only female monarch to rule over an empire; Meera Bai, the queen who became a mendicant, choosing Krishna as her fantasy lover; Jahanara Begum, Aurangzeb's elder sister and Sufi mystic; Rani Laxmibai, the legendary warrior queen of Jhansi; and Hazrat Mahal, consort of Wajid Ali Shah, ruler of Lucknow, who fought the British East India Company to the bitter end. These women are famous, to a greater and lesser extent, all over India (and abroad, to a certain extent) and their stories reasonably well-known. However, what Ira Mukhoty does here is to shine new light on their half-remembered tales, part fact, part fiction, and part legend. And it is indeed a fascinating journey.
The author says:
Thus we have Draupadi, the infinitely desirable heroine of the Mahabharata, who rails against the Dharma which cursed her to her fate. We have Radha, whose erotic love for an adolescent godchild younger than herself was indulged in with gay abandon. We have Ambapali, a courtesan who became a Buddhist nun, to find independent agency in the only two options available to women outside the sanctity of marriage. We have Raziya, who ruled as Sultan over an empire, and very much "wore the pants" (both literally and figuratively) - (in fact, she reminded me so much of Indira Gandhi, the way she was underestimated by the people who put her in power with the idea of making her a figurehead). We have Meera Bai, whose bhakti was as much rebellion as devotion. We have Jahanara Begum, Aurangzeb's elder sister who was a Sufi and who held her own until her death in her brother's blood-soaked reign. We have Laxmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, who was a diplomat who tried to compromise with the enemy until the very end when her back was to the wall, and who then became a battling fury. And finally, we have Begum Hazrat Mahal who was much more of a threat to the British than the Laxmibai and who never gave up - and whose story was eclipsed in Independent India maybe because she was a courtesan of African origin and a Muslim.
What does Ira Mukhoty expect to gain from retelling these stories, fascinating as they are? She says:
The author says:
To be able to convey a sense of the antiquity of India, this book covers the lives of eight women, real or imagined, across three thousand years of India’s stories. There is a Mughal princess, a Turkish Mamluk warrior, and a Brahmin widow. There is a courtesan, a princess of Chittor and a begum who was of part-African descent. Yet in time, all these differences are scuffed or overlooked and the women become representative of a universal, north-Indian ideal of beauty—fair skinned and buxom. The fire goes out of their eyes as does the strength in their limbs which once wielded talwars and scimitars. More corrupting still is the effacing of their personalities, the sublimation of their faults and their unacceptable transgressions.In other words, these women have been sanitised to fit a single mould, that of the virtuous Bharatiya Nari. Desexed, depersonalised and disempowered, they have become like "Raja Ravi Varma’s kitsch poster art" (I would also add Amar Chitra Katha). Ira Mukhoty digs deep into their histories, separates wheat from the chaff, and presents before us three-dimensional women of flesh and blood: not as "pure" as touted, more vulnerable, and in some cases, not very likeable - but better than the pastiches we knew from fireside tales.
In the heroic context, it may not appear to be very momentous to leave one’s home and the security of society in search of a personal goal, but even today, women in India face society’s opprobrium or worse for being seen to ‘transgress� or even when they are just going about their lives. Women are mutilated and murdered on cold December evenings in Delhi outside movie theatres, and they are raped on balmy Mumbai afternoons in abandoned textile mills. They are killed, and brutalized and tortured in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and beyond, for leaving their homes with men of the wrong religion, or caste or colour. This is why the obduracy of that first step, which took these eight women outside the safety of their known universe, was truly remarkable, because every woman in India understands why such a decision was momentous.This is what binds these heroines together, despite their varied natures and fortunes - their courage to step outside invisible societal boundaries.
Thus we have Draupadi, the infinitely desirable heroine of the Mahabharata, who rails against the Dharma which cursed her to her fate. We have Radha, whose erotic love for an adolescent godchild younger than herself was indulged in with gay abandon. We have Ambapali, a courtesan who became a Buddhist nun, to find independent agency in the only two options available to women outside the sanctity of marriage. We have Raziya, who ruled as Sultan over an empire, and very much "wore the pants" (both literally and figuratively) - (in fact, she reminded me so much of Indira Gandhi, the way she was underestimated by the people who put her in power with the idea of making her a figurehead). We have Meera Bai, whose bhakti was as much rebellion as devotion. We have Jahanara Begum, Aurangzeb's elder sister who was a Sufi and who held her own until her death in her brother's blood-soaked reign. We have Laxmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, who was a diplomat who tried to compromise with the enemy until the very end when her back was to the wall, and who then became a battling fury. And finally, we have Begum Hazrat Mahal who was much more of a threat to the British than the Laxmibai and who never gave up - and whose story was eclipsed in Independent India maybe because she was a courtesan of African origin and a Muslim.
What does Ira Mukhoty expect to gain from retelling these stories, fascinating as they are? She says:
In the twenty-first century reality for Indian women, it is more important than ever to remember the stories of our heroic women. To remember that women having been standing up against injustice and oppression for thousands of years, with courage and grace. For the countless daughters of India who would be astronomers and scientists, artists and entrepreneurs, it is essential that there are heroic role models who are human in their fallibility and sublime in their ambition. Real women, with weaknesses to overcome, not impossible goddesses complacent in their divine superiority.Yes indeed. In contemporary India, where women entering temples are assaulted with pepper sprays on account of them being "impure", and every day the country wakes up to the stories of girls raped, tortured and murdered, we do need such heroines - if only to remind ourselves that the "Lakshmana Rekhas" are valid only so long as women honour them.
February 17, 2017
‘Heroines� is a book narrates the story of powerful Indian women of myth and history. The time when man dominates, these women courage and bravery make their place in the history of India.
Ira Mukhoty compiles stories of such great women of myth and history in her book. The book tells a story of their struggle for respect, finding their place in the man dominating society, fighting for restoring their self respect. There was a time when a woman had a secondary and supporting role in the man’s world. It was considered that a woman’s life has only one aim to serve and support her father, husband and son, who are her owner on different stages of life. They live in the influence of a man all through their life without having an identity of her. They had no rightful place in the society and had no right to be given.
The book has a life and struggle of eight such women from Draupadi; a dharma queen to Jahanara Begum from the history.
The book is read like a history book and diverts from its path on every then and now. From the title of the book one may expect a story of these women courage and fight for their rightful place but book seems more like a research paper. The characterizations of these women of Indian myth and history could have been better if the book is written as their story of struggle rather a collection of excerpt.
Ira Mukhoty compiles stories of such great women of myth and history in her book. The book tells a story of their struggle for respect, finding their place in the man dominating society, fighting for restoring their self respect. There was a time when a woman had a secondary and supporting role in the man’s world. It was considered that a woman’s life has only one aim to serve and support her father, husband and son, who are her owner on different stages of life. They live in the influence of a man all through their life without having an identity of her. They had no rightful place in the society and had no right to be given.
The book has a life and struggle of eight such women from Draupadi; a dharma queen to Jahanara Begum from the history.
The book is read like a history book and diverts from its path on every then and now. From the title of the book one may expect a story of these women courage and fight for their rightful place but book seems more like a research paper. The characterizations of these women of Indian myth and history could have been better if the book is written as their story of struggle rather a collection of excerpt.
August 14, 2020
Heroines: Powerful Indian Women of Myth and History is a book which focuses on eight women throughout myth as well as history.We get to read about Draupadi,Radha,Ambapalli,Rani Laxmibai,Raziya Sultan,Meera Bai,Jahanara Begum and Hazrat Mahal.
I enjoyed the chapters about Draupadi and Radha a lot. I got to read about the lesser known arguments and different perspectives from the loves of both women. This book tell of the struggle these women underwent during those days to challenge the patriarchal norms.
The first two chapters had a lot of dialogue going on about both of them but the writing felt very choppy and disjointed to me. I felt that the rest of the book read more like a history textbook and research paper loaded with all the facts. I hardly got to see the female perspective and what these women thought about their life situations. In the chapters about Jahanara Begum and Hazrat Mahal,the author deviates from the main objective several times and the focus is lost in irrelevant details.
Overall,it was a great effort.The premise of the book was good and I could see that a lot of research has gone into it. However,the writing is a let down and the book failed to give me that unique female perspective I wanted to read about.
I enjoyed the chapters about Draupadi and Radha a lot. I got to read about the lesser known arguments and different perspectives from the loves of both women. This book tell of the struggle these women underwent during those days to challenge the patriarchal norms.
The first two chapters had a lot of dialogue going on about both of them but the writing felt very choppy and disjointed to me. I felt that the rest of the book read more like a history textbook and research paper loaded with all the facts. I hardly got to see the female perspective and what these women thought about their life situations. In the chapters about Jahanara Begum and Hazrat Mahal,the author deviates from the main objective several times and the focus is lost in irrelevant details.
Overall,it was a great effort.The premise of the book was good and I could see that a lot of research has gone into it. However,the writing is a let down and the book failed to give me that unique female perspective I wanted to read about.
July 2, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. In fact, I really enjoyed the first two chapters with Draupadi and Radha - two of the most compelling female characters in Hindu mythology. But while there is a lot of dialogue about both of them, it felt very messy and sometimes unfounded. It might be the author's writing style.
The rest of the book is worse than a history text. It's all loaded with facts and inferences, but not the female perspective. I think a lot about the real heroines is lost in the focus on the male-centric history.
The rest of the book is worse than a history text. It's all loaded with facts and inferences, but not the female perspective. I think a lot about the real heroines is lost in the focus on the male-centric history.
November 9, 2019
Women have historically been relegated to a subsidiary role in historical narrative where kings and nobles followed a one-to-many relationship with the females in their harems until quite recent times. This naturally reduced the power and influence of women as they had had to compete with other wives, mistresses and slaves for the lord's attention. There are noble exceptions to this general rule and this book details the lives of eight women from India's past who had won for themselves the aura of immortality on account of their steadfast determination and strength of character. The eight women chosen are: Draupadi, Radha, Ambapali, Razia bint-Iltutmish, Mirabai, Jahanara Begum, Rani Lakshmibai and Begum Hazrat Mahal. The author has an excellent answer to those who frown on the inclusion of two mythic characters in the list � Draupadi and Radha. This is because history blends into mythology and vice versa in the Indian context. The history of Rani Lakshmibai is embellished with colourful lore to make her a semi-divine personage no longer bound by the physical limitations inherent in mortal beings. Making the horse jump with her adopted son tied to her back from the ramparts of Jhansi fort to the ground below is one such example. The logic in selecting them is clear cut � all women share an unassailable belief in a cause for which they are willing to fight and they refused to borrow a man's prerogative � whether a father's, husband’s or son’s. Mukhoty is a popular writer who had developed an interest in the evolution of mythology and history and its relevance to the status of women in India. She has written for magazines on culture and travel.
This book’s evaluation of Rani Lakshmibai is patently unfair and merciless. The author assigns the dubious epithets of an ‘accidental heroine� and ‘reluctant participant in the drama that made her a heroine� (p.146). Mukhoty explains the reasons for this strange judgement of a nationally loved historical personality. She points out the ‘Doctrine of Lapse� put in place by Lord Dalhousie as soon as he became the Governor General of India. This policy sought to remove all travesty of self-governance of princely states whose ruler died without a legal heir to succeed him. In the case of hereditary ancestral kingdoms, adoption of an heir was permitted. As far as Jhansi was concerned, the deposed Peshwa of Pune conceded all his territorial claims in Bundelkhand to the British in 1817. The ruling Navalkar family signed a separate treaty with the East India Company, who recognised Ram Chand Rao as its ruler. Gangadhar Rao, Lakshmibai's husband, followed him to the throne. He was a transvestite and no children were born to him. He adopted the five-year old Damodar Rao on his death bed. So, on a close examination of the finer nuances of law, it may be argued that the British were right in denying the continued enjoyment of the throne to the adopted son, which is exactly the attitude the author assumes.
The author’s attacks on the Rani of Jhansi don't stop there. She concedes the Rani’s bold decision of not shaving her head and declining renouncement of her pearls and diamonds on the death of her husband. She sometimes dressed like a man, argued with men, rode horses and wielded the sword. This was revolutionary for the time and quiet unthinkable activities for a woman. Rani Lakshmibai explored all avenues open to her as part of the British judicial system to argue her case and win the control of her principality. For this purpose, she hired the services of a maverick lawyer named John Lang. The reception accorded to Lang is given in great detail in the book which is however clearly intended only to tarnish the queen’s repute in nationalist chronicles. Mukhoty claims that Lang was brought from Agra in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by the Diwan of Jhansi and a butler carried a bucket of ice containing water, beer and wine all the way. A servant stood outside the palanquin on a footboard and fanned the men with a punkha. The constant appeals and entreaties made by Lakshmibai to the British are also projected in an unfavourable light. As a parting shot, the author claims that she had no option but to fight the British after the massacre of innocent men, women and children of British origin at Jokhun Bagh under her watch. No clemency could be expected from the Europeans for such a heinous deed.
Mukhoty’s criticism of Rani Lakshmi Bai is propelled by the high renown she enjoys in nationalist circles. While she knocks about the Rani unceremoniously, her encounter with Begum Hazrat Mahal is with kid gloves. The Begum of Lucknow is, no doubt, a great leader of the 1857 war of independence, but the author’s arguments against the Rani are equally applicable against the Begum too. She had even threatened her soldiers that if they don't fight enough, she will negotiate with the British to spare her life (p.162). The Rani fought the British and fell in the battlefield while the Begum fled to Nepal on a tacit agreement with the British. She tried to come back later in life, but her appeals were rejected. One crucial point to be noted here is that this comparison is in no way meant to degrade the role of Begum Hazrat Mahal. On the contrary, it is included to highlight the similarities in the parts played by these two brave women for the country. It is the author who picks one among the great stalwarts of the Independence movement for making a disreputable attack.
This book does not promote nationalism of a more intense kind, but in the early part of the book, she notes a general disregard about the country’s heroes and heroines from every historical period. She nearly taunts the countrymen for continuing names such as Havelock and Neill for islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago who were British military generals who had brutally put down the 1857 uprising. Vishnu Bhatt Godse was a traveller and chronicler of the 1857 war, but the book uses the spelling ‘Godshe� as if to pre-empt any confusion with the person who assassinated Gandhi. The book does a great service by omitting Indira Gandhi from the list. Even though she deserves to be there on account of the impact of her rule of post-independent India, it is better to leave her out, because most of that impact was detrimental to the nation as a whole.
The book is recommended.
This book’s evaluation of Rani Lakshmibai is patently unfair and merciless. The author assigns the dubious epithets of an ‘accidental heroine� and ‘reluctant participant in the drama that made her a heroine� (p.146). Mukhoty explains the reasons for this strange judgement of a nationally loved historical personality. She points out the ‘Doctrine of Lapse� put in place by Lord Dalhousie as soon as he became the Governor General of India. This policy sought to remove all travesty of self-governance of princely states whose ruler died without a legal heir to succeed him. In the case of hereditary ancestral kingdoms, adoption of an heir was permitted. As far as Jhansi was concerned, the deposed Peshwa of Pune conceded all his territorial claims in Bundelkhand to the British in 1817. The ruling Navalkar family signed a separate treaty with the East India Company, who recognised Ram Chand Rao as its ruler. Gangadhar Rao, Lakshmibai's husband, followed him to the throne. He was a transvestite and no children were born to him. He adopted the five-year old Damodar Rao on his death bed. So, on a close examination of the finer nuances of law, it may be argued that the British were right in denying the continued enjoyment of the throne to the adopted son, which is exactly the attitude the author assumes.
The author’s attacks on the Rani of Jhansi don't stop there. She concedes the Rani’s bold decision of not shaving her head and declining renouncement of her pearls and diamonds on the death of her husband. She sometimes dressed like a man, argued with men, rode horses and wielded the sword. This was revolutionary for the time and quiet unthinkable activities for a woman. Rani Lakshmibai explored all avenues open to her as part of the British judicial system to argue her case and win the control of her principality. For this purpose, she hired the services of a maverick lawyer named John Lang. The reception accorded to Lang is given in great detail in the book which is however clearly intended only to tarnish the queen’s repute in nationalist chronicles. Mukhoty claims that Lang was brought from Agra in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by the Diwan of Jhansi and a butler carried a bucket of ice containing water, beer and wine all the way. A servant stood outside the palanquin on a footboard and fanned the men with a punkha. The constant appeals and entreaties made by Lakshmibai to the British are also projected in an unfavourable light. As a parting shot, the author claims that she had no option but to fight the British after the massacre of innocent men, women and children of British origin at Jokhun Bagh under her watch. No clemency could be expected from the Europeans for such a heinous deed.
Mukhoty’s criticism of Rani Lakshmi Bai is propelled by the high renown she enjoys in nationalist circles. While she knocks about the Rani unceremoniously, her encounter with Begum Hazrat Mahal is with kid gloves. The Begum of Lucknow is, no doubt, a great leader of the 1857 war of independence, but the author’s arguments against the Rani are equally applicable against the Begum too. She had even threatened her soldiers that if they don't fight enough, she will negotiate with the British to spare her life (p.162). The Rani fought the British and fell in the battlefield while the Begum fled to Nepal on a tacit agreement with the British. She tried to come back later in life, but her appeals were rejected. One crucial point to be noted here is that this comparison is in no way meant to degrade the role of Begum Hazrat Mahal. On the contrary, it is included to highlight the similarities in the parts played by these two brave women for the country. It is the author who picks one among the great stalwarts of the Independence movement for making a disreputable attack.
This book does not promote nationalism of a more intense kind, but in the early part of the book, she notes a general disregard about the country’s heroes and heroines from every historical period. She nearly taunts the countrymen for continuing names such as Havelock and Neill for islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago who were British military generals who had brutally put down the 1857 uprising. Vishnu Bhatt Godse was a traveller and chronicler of the 1857 war, but the book uses the spelling ‘Godshe� as if to pre-empt any confusion with the person who assassinated Gandhi. The book does a great service by omitting Indira Gandhi from the list. Even though she deserves to be there on account of the impact of her rule of post-independent India, it is better to leave her out, because most of that impact was detrimental to the nation as a whole.
The book is recommended.
July 19, 2017
This is a comprehensive and respectable collection, highlighting the lives and times of 8 of India's heroines, who have been completely courageous and compelling and compassionate. These women - daughters, wives, mothers, beloved - believed in their individual causes, and stood up firm and strong for it.
There is so much to know and learn about these exemplary women - Draupadi, Radha, Razia Sultan, Amrapali, Meera, Jahanara Begum, Rani Laxmi Bai and Hazrat Mahal - and how even then faced with male dominated society and often anti-national forces, these women have held their grounds, often often manipulative, brave and human in their emotions and actions.
While this book mainly delved with the heroines centred in and around North India, would love to read the next edition where we move to another part of India, and know more about the women from there, who played key and pioneering roles to change their lives and the society somewhat.
There is so much to know and learn about these exemplary women - Draupadi, Radha, Razia Sultan, Amrapali, Meera, Jahanara Begum, Rani Laxmi Bai and Hazrat Mahal - and how even then faced with male dominated society and often anti-national forces, these women have held their grounds, often often manipulative, brave and human in their emotions and actions.
While this book mainly delved with the heroines centred in and around North India, would love to read the next edition where we move to another part of India, and know more about the women from there, who played key and pioneering roles to change their lives and the society somewhat.
November 13, 2017
I picked up this book after hearing Ira Mukhoty's talk at the Bangalore Literature Fest this year. While it had all the information and research it promised, it left me wanting. I believe that if there had been more on one heroine, vs. short writeups on eight, this would've been a far more engaging work. I also think that from a pure writing style perspective, I was hoping for an Alison Weir type experience, which I didn't get.
Read this for the premise, and all the research that's gone into the book, and not so much for the writing. I do hope that Ira follows this up with a more in-depth look at the heroines in turn, maybe that will address my issues with this book!
Read this for the premise, and all the research that's gone into the book, and not so much for the writing. I do hope that Ira follows this up with a more in-depth look at the heroines in turn, maybe that will address my issues with this book!
March 13, 2017
Some parts are really well researched and there are some stories that I had no clue about but there is no pace to the stories. I am guessing that is because the author wanted it to be an historically accurate (at least as much as possible with Indian myths and lores) but I believe there were areas of opportunity where the stories could have been a bit more inspiring. I loved the Jahanara and Draupadi chapters, probably because the author had more material to go by in these chapters aur because she had somehow become more invested in these two characters.
Overall a decent read, esp. for budding feminists and other women. This is an important guide/starter pack to see the changes that a mainstream society heaps of the representation of figurines that do not fit the mould of what they consider as appropriate. Beware of deification.
Overall a decent read, esp. for budding feminists and other women. This is an important guide/starter pack to see the changes that a mainstream society heaps of the representation of figurines that do not fit the mould of what they consider as appropriate. Beware of deification.
August 11, 2019
Not too impressive
I was not really impressed with this book. Too many irrelevant details were given which did not relate to the person who was being highlighted.
I was not really impressed with this book. Too many irrelevant details were given which did not relate to the person who was being highlighted.
September 26, 2023
The author has selected women with agency, women who defied convention and did not take the easy way out. Fascinating stories, meticulously researched. Enjoyed this book.
Wrote a blog post on this book. Here it is:
Wrote a blog post on this book. Here it is:
March 9, 2017
Women..Some of us were born to plan battles for Kurukshetra, some to free India from oppressors. Our blood flows equally into the soil of this great country, but our fate is such that we will be lost in history. Heroines by Ira Mukhoty is one such book that revives the stories of eight such magnificent women, who not only challenged society norms in ancient times but gave us lessons for life.
Patriarchy is a hard truth that faces us and the biggest reason behind why these women were never much celebrated, hardly even read about. Foreign authors always find it interesting to know and write about our heroines, but not ours. Only a handful manage to come up with facts and figures to revive the ancient stories that mesmerize us.
The title itself, Heroines was very intriguing for me. The book covers eight magnificent ladies, beginning with the story of Draupadi. Daughter of King Drupad, she was deemed to rule the world. Instead, her life was never her own. She was distributed as a price among five men, which were to be her husbands. She was humiliated in front of the full court like a regular whore, and even her husbands didn't stand up her. Ashamed they were as they gambled away their wife for the upkeep of their false pride and greed for the kingdom. But Draupadi waited and plotted seeds of revenge carefully, and then one day washed her hair with Duryodhan's blood, the same Duryodhan who offered her to sit on his lap like a common whore.
The second story is of Radha, the love, and soul of Krishna. But then, the society never had an eye for something pious and precious. Her love for Krishna mortified the common folk, and at one time even tagged her as a woman of low caste. But her love for Krishna never waivered. She remained devout to Krishna till her last breath, showing how sacrificing a woman can be who truly loves.
The third story is of Ambapali, a famous escort, and courtesan of King Bimbisara, who gave up the life of luxury and fame to find her inner self. One day, Buddha was passing her village, and she invited him for a meal at her place. After the meal, Buddha preaches that "Craving and desire for the things of this world cause suffering. Give up those cravings now and stop your suffering". Ambapali bowed before him and took off her ivory bangles, her earrings, and heavy gold necklace. After a span of few years, Ambapali's wares were being flogged at the local market, her talking parrot, vanity mirrors, trunks full of silk. She devoted her life to Buddha, thus being her true self.
Then there is Raziya Sultan, the first woman Mughal ruler who ruled the land better than any man could; Meerabai, who gave up worldly affairs and joined her true love Krishna in prayers, receiving mockery and criticism from her in-laws and society. There are two fighters as well, Laxmibai and Hazrat Mahal. One carried a son with her onto the battlefield, the other kept fighting for her beloved Awadh till she died in a foreign country. There's also Jahanara, the darling of her father Emperor Shah Jahan, a woman of good taste with her flair for Sufi music and exquisite architecture.
Heroines is not just a book about famous Indian women for me. It turned out to be more than that, a book that highlighted how even in ancient India women had to fight hard to stand up for themselves. Each of these women fought against the odds for their rightful place. Each of them had a goal and always wanted to be taken seriously. Some of them sacrificed everything for the motherland, yet hardly we remember them.
While reading Heroines, I felt as if our sufferings and struggle to do what we want to do has been going since ancient times. There might be no end to it, but these heroines give us hopethat one day, we might win.
Another beautiful thing I liked about Mukhoty was the way she compared elements of lives of these women. A forest for Sita was a home away from home, she followed her husband blindly into the forest, and one day perished because of the same husband. The same forest for Draupadi was a constant reminder of how she was humiliated and her husbands did nothing. Sita is still celebrated for being the doting, lovable wife in our society, as a Pativrata but nobody praises Draupadi's struggle. That's an ugly truth that Mukhoty very slyly shared through her words with all the readers.
I for one loved this book. I was hooked to it and yes, it has a fresh idea, something that I've never thought about before. All in all, Ira Mukhoty has done a brilliant job in reviving these great women for us. So make sure you grab your copy soon.
Patriarchy is a hard truth that faces us and the biggest reason behind why these women were never much celebrated, hardly even read about. Foreign authors always find it interesting to know and write about our heroines, but not ours. Only a handful manage to come up with facts and figures to revive the ancient stories that mesmerize us.
The title itself, Heroines was very intriguing for me. The book covers eight magnificent ladies, beginning with the story of Draupadi. Daughter of King Drupad, she was deemed to rule the world. Instead, her life was never her own. She was distributed as a price among five men, which were to be her husbands. She was humiliated in front of the full court like a regular whore, and even her husbands didn't stand up her. Ashamed they were as they gambled away their wife for the upkeep of their false pride and greed for the kingdom. But Draupadi waited and plotted seeds of revenge carefully, and then one day washed her hair with Duryodhan's blood, the same Duryodhan who offered her to sit on his lap like a common whore.
The second story is of Radha, the love, and soul of Krishna. But then, the society never had an eye for something pious and precious. Her love for Krishna mortified the common folk, and at one time even tagged her as a woman of low caste. But her love for Krishna never waivered. She remained devout to Krishna till her last breath, showing how sacrificing a woman can be who truly loves.
The third story is of Ambapali, a famous escort, and courtesan of King Bimbisara, who gave up the life of luxury and fame to find her inner self. One day, Buddha was passing her village, and she invited him for a meal at her place. After the meal, Buddha preaches that "Craving and desire for the things of this world cause suffering. Give up those cravings now and stop your suffering". Ambapali bowed before him and took off her ivory bangles, her earrings, and heavy gold necklace. After a span of few years, Ambapali's wares were being flogged at the local market, her talking parrot, vanity mirrors, trunks full of silk. She devoted her life to Buddha, thus being her true self.
Then there is Raziya Sultan, the first woman Mughal ruler who ruled the land better than any man could; Meerabai, who gave up worldly affairs and joined her true love Krishna in prayers, receiving mockery and criticism from her in-laws and society. There are two fighters as well, Laxmibai and Hazrat Mahal. One carried a son with her onto the battlefield, the other kept fighting for her beloved Awadh till she died in a foreign country. There's also Jahanara, the darling of her father Emperor Shah Jahan, a woman of good taste with her flair for Sufi music and exquisite architecture.
Heroines is not just a book about famous Indian women for me. It turned out to be more than that, a book that highlighted how even in ancient India women had to fight hard to stand up for themselves. Each of these women fought against the odds for their rightful place. Each of them had a goal and always wanted to be taken seriously. Some of them sacrificed everything for the motherland, yet hardly we remember them.
While reading Heroines, I felt as if our sufferings and struggle to do what we want to do has been going since ancient times. There might be no end to it, but these heroines give us hopethat one day, we might win.
Another beautiful thing I liked about Mukhoty was the way she compared elements of lives of these women. A forest for Sita was a home away from home, she followed her husband blindly into the forest, and one day perished because of the same husband. The same forest for Draupadi was a constant reminder of how she was humiliated and her husbands did nothing. Sita is still celebrated for being the doting, lovable wife in our society, as a Pativrata but nobody praises Draupadi's struggle. That's an ugly truth that Mukhoty very slyly shared through her words with all the readers.
I for one loved this book. I was hooked to it and yes, it has a fresh idea, something that I've never thought about before. All in all, Ira Mukhoty has done a brilliant job in reviving these great women for us. So make sure you grab your copy soon.
March 29, 2021
This book is about eight women ranging from Indian mythology to the nineteenth century when women joined the struggle for independence.
Draupadi is the first of these; I enjoyed the author's perspective on her. A fiery, unrelenting wife and Queen, she never allowed her humiliation to take a back seat and revenge was ultimately hers though she too paid a big price for it. So many narratives exist for this proud beauty but this one was fresh and interesting to read.
Radha,the love of Lord Krishna, the much sung about and written about lover who never got to marry him but is always considered his eternal consort is the next heroine of the book. What was interesting was the excerpts and points of view from other works like the Gita Govinda pertaining to the relationship Radha shared with Krishna.
I wish the focus had remained on the heroines themselves for the other 6 outlined in this book. However, it drifted into general history of the time they lived in, be it the Mughal period or the time of the rule of Razia Sultana or even the actual sepoy mutiny itself in case of Rani Laxmibai instead of the women themselves.
It did enlighten me about Begum Hazrat Mahal and certain aspects of what Jhansi ki Rani actually was like.
Draupadi is the first of these; I enjoyed the author's perspective on her. A fiery, unrelenting wife and Queen, she never allowed her humiliation to take a back seat and revenge was ultimately hers though she too paid a big price for it. So many narratives exist for this proud beauty but this one was fresh and interesting to read.
Radha,the love of Lord Krishna, the much sung about and written about lover who never got to marry him but is always considered his eternal consort is the next heroine of the book. What was interesting was the excerpts and points of view from other works like the Gita Govinda pertaining to the relationship Radha shared with Krishna.
I wish the focus had remained on the heroines themselves for the other 6 outlined in this book. However, it drifted into general history of the time they lived in, be it the Mughal period or the time of the rule of Razia Sultana or even the actual sepoy mutiny itself in case of Rani Laxmibai instead of the women themselves.
It did enlighten me about Begum Hazrat Mahal and certain aspects of what Jhansi ki Rani actually was like.
March 25, 2017
An author you immediately respect, an in depth well researched literary masterpiece. Will probably be added as a must read of Indian History as well.
February 22, 2019
Rather than discussing weather this book is good or bad, I'd like to say that this book is important. Not only the stories of the eight women told in this book, but even the Introduction and Epilogue chapters discussed something important. I was appalled to realize that despite all her contributions to the 1857 War of Independence, I had never heard of Begum Hazrat Mahal. This book isn't perfect and depending on the reader's worldview they might enjoy it less or more. The author does not shy away from sharing her own opinions about the stories of these women and their depictions through history. She is not trying to provide an unbiased historical narrative of these women. At times I agreed with her opinions and at times not so much. But that did not in any way take away from the reading experience. On the contrary, it made me reflect upon these stories even further. In the end, I enjoyed this book for introducing me to the women like Hazrat Mahal and Amrapali, whose stories I did not know before and also for providing a new perspective on women like Jahanara and Rani Lakshmibai, whose stories I thought I knew well.
December 21, 2020
The thing that has been bothering me the most in the last few days has been the many ways in which the accomplishments of women are being thrust under the carpet, and those of men magnified. Serendipitously, I picked up a book that explores the very same theme.
Eight women (two from mythology, six real),who in different ways had to create a space for themselves in what is essentially a patriarchal world. Eight women, some of whom have been virtually erased from history, and others have had their stories embellished to serve a patriarchal purpose. Eight women, each of whom did what needed to be done. And did it without being apologetic about it. Maybe I should come back to read it when I am in a different frame of mind, but for now, I want to thrust the book into everyone's hands, and make them read it.
Eight women (two from mythology, six real),who in different ways had to create a space for themselves in what is essentially a patriarchal world. Eight women, some of whom have been virtually erased from history, and others have had their stories embellished to serve a patriarchal purpose. Eight women, each of whom did what needed to be done. And did it without being apologetic about it. Maybe I should come back to read it when I am in a different frame of mind, but for now, I want to thrust the book into everyone's hands, and make them read it.
April 9, 2022
I was really looking forward to this book having read Ira’s Daughters of the Sun.
Thoroughly loved the chapters on Draupadi, Radha, Razia and Ambapali� especially how different social norms (and Victorian values) have changed the narrative on each of them and even their physical appearance over a period of time.
But the chapters I was most keen to read - on Jahanara, Lakshmibai and Hazrat Mahal - were just lost in factual events and did not offer any depth into any perspective.
Thoroughly loved the chapters on Draupadi, Radha, Razia and Ambapali� especially how different social norms (and Victorian values) have changed the narrative on each of them and even their physical appearance over a period of time.
But the chapters I was most keen to read - on Jahanara, Lakshmibai and Hazrat Mahal - were just lost in factual events and did not offer any depth into any perspective.
May 16, 2024
This book heroin is an excellent character sketch of some great Indian women. Personally, I found the story of Razia Sultan interesting and informative as I was already quite familiar with other characters from this book.
June 14, 2017
When I picked up Heroines, I didn't think it could let on more than I already knew. The reason being, all the women mentioned in the book are people we have read of - either in history textbooks or in mythological retellings (all except Ambapali, perhaps). But boy, Ms. Mukhoty managed to surprise me with her extensively researched book of essays on 8 Indian women! The "heroines" in this book are human and fallible - a stark contrast to the impossible standards of perfection females are held to in current times. In almost close succession to another stellar book on female role models - Good night stories for rebel girls, I think, as readers, we are finally ready to read more content from the female perspective. Perhaps, a portent of better things to come literature-wise?
April 27, 2017
Heroines by Ira Mukhoty is a concise compilation of the personal histories of eight powerful women in India, spanning across centuries, but with one distinct collective characteristic, which is the desire to live life on one’s own terms. The author gives a realistic account of the character of these women including Draupadi and Radha from Indian mythology and Ambapali, Razia Sultan, Hazrat mahal, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Jahanara Begum and Meera Bai from Indian history.
When you read history or mythology in detail, you come to a horrid realisation that the status of women has not undergone any substantial change from those times to the present day. Of course many of my ‘educated- well-settled- middle class- women � friends might not concur to this observation because they choose to be ignorant and blind by refusing to open their eyes or hearts. Every single day at work, I come across women who are in peculiar life situations just because they are women. I listen to men and women talk about gender, sex selection, child rearing, marriage and reproduction on a daily basis, strengthening my impression that no paramount change has happened in the patriarchal belief system of our society from the time of Mahabharata. The position as the ‘second sex� still undeniably belongs to women; of course, minor suppositious changes are all that have emerged.
Ira Mukhoty has not failed to bring out the humane side of emotions these heroic women had. For example, Draupadi questioned the right of a husband over wife in the King’s court; but the same woman was the one who ridiculed Duryodhana and Karna. Radha loved Krishna effortlessly but was jealous of other women enjoying Krishna’s company. Rani Lakshmi Bai, who fought valiantly against the British, did not hesitate to spend money on decoration of her war tents! These contradictions are what that make these characters more appealing and believable.
Even today, this book does not lose its relevance. People may argue maliciously about the need to rewrite such gallant stories about women. People tend to conveniently forget the stories and struggles of the weaker sections with ease because history is often narrated by the stronger and louder. To remind people about the past and to make them contemplate and reflect, repeated affirmations are necessary. Many a times, to be heard, you need to shout and be obvious. Ira Mukhoty’s effort in this direction needs to be appreciated.
When you read history or mythology in detail, you come to a horrid realisation that the status of women has not undergone any substantial change from those times to the present day. Of course many of my ‘educated- well-settled- middle class- women � friends might not concur to this observation because they choose to be ignorant and blind by refusing to open their eyes or hearts. Every single day at work, I come across women who are in peculiar life situations just because they are women. I listen to men and women talk about gender, sex selection, child rearing, marriage and reproduction on a daily basis, strengthening my impression that no paramount change has happened in the patriarchal belief system of our society from the time of Mahabharata. The position as the ‘second sex� still undeniably belongs to women; of course, minor suppositious changes are all that have emerged.
Ira Mukhoty has not failed to bring out the humane side of emotions these heroic women had. For example, Draupadi questioned the right of a husband over wife in the King’s court; but the same woman was the one who ridiculed Duryodhana and Karna. Radha loved Krishna effortlessly but was jealous of other women enjoying Krishna’s company. Rani Lakshmi Bai, who fought valiantly against the British, did not hesitate to spend money on decoration of her war tents! These contradictions are what that make these characters more appealing and believable.
Even today, this book does not lose its relevance. People may argue maliciously about the need to rewrite such gallant stories about women. People tend to conveniently forget the stories and struggles of the weaker sections with ease because history is often narrated by the stronger and louder. To remind people about the past and to make them contemplate and reflect, repeated affirmations are necessary. Many a times, to be heard, you need to shout and be obvious. Ira Mukhoty’s effort in this direction needs to be appreciated.
March 21, 2017
not all fables we hered might be the facts... this book was almost near to the facts about the women we knew for their bravery. upto me, this is the right way of writing about the Heroins of our land. also these provokes many different questions like why there is no freedom fight against any other invaders other than english. may be the Indian mentality of bravery vs Fox's strategy!!!
February 9, 2021
I have always appreciated Ira Mukhouty's history for the research she puts in from sources other than traditional texts. Hunting out different viewpoints enable her to reach the actual person behind the historical facades created by professional historians, usually, men who feel bound to hold up male superiority concepts by vilifying females who make it into history.
Here she has focussed on eight almost forgotten or reinvented heroines from our past, striding the history stage, from that elusive Krishna Lover, Radha who challenged all modern percepts too....Radha is human, she rails, chides, and sulks with Krishna, never mind that it is an illicit love; and is all the more adorable for it.
Ambapali was denied her stature as a senior Buddhis nun whose unforgettable poem dignified her quest for immortality after she gave up her vaunted position in the Vaishali court. Giving up power is never easy; but Ambapali reinvented herself dramatically -- a fact finally acknowledged belatedly.
Razia Sultan vaulted into history with her ambition to the horror of her male compatriots. It took an outsider to set aside their scurrilous aspersions to award her the title of the only Warleader of the Iltutmish dynasty -- Lashgarkash.
Meera is found by Ira Mukhouty, to have been whitewashed into sainthood, despite being a reluctant bride, disappointing bahu who refused to bow to the family goddess and refused to commit sati! she put away her symbols of marriage, of widowhood, and caste to walk off into the wilderness looking for her Girdhar Gopal. It is as if sanitization for freedom myths by Gandhi & co. entailed giving Meera a semi-divine status to create the image of a Satyagrahi or a white-clad Fakir.
There are others including Jahan Ara and Hazrat Mahal of Oudh, both undoubtedly great and courageous women of their times who could and did stare down the men they dealt with. But Ms. Mukhouty's revelations of the story behind the Rani of Jhansi truly upset history's bandwagon so long drawn along by accounts of the country's premier freedom fighter against British rule. Delving into other contemporary accounts of what actually happened during those crucial years:
An opulent Rani who went into battle in her royal regalia, totally conscious of her 'royal' status, negotiated long and hard for her adopted son's right to the Jhansi throne. This raises questions over whether the Rani may have joined the Indian cause if her proposals had been accepted! Bairhal.... what does emerge is that the whole Independence Queen legend of jumping off the battlements of the fort with her child strapped on her back was the creation of later day nationalists looking for a female figure to add luster to their battle. The battlements were too high for a horse to survive the jump, the 'child' ten years old and too big to be on her back!
But yes, the Rani of Jhansi did die in battle at the hands of a trooper; but her men rose up to snatch her body for last rites without being touched by profane hands ---- and the eventual crowning of Independence Queen.
Many Thanks to Ira Mukhouty for clearing so much air and going to the sources, without being waylaid by tales to resurrect our Heroines. It so reminded me of my book Mastani that cleared her of the Muslim dancing girl labels to establish her as a Princess from Bundelkhand.
Here she has focussed on eight almost forgotten or reinvented heroines from our past, striding the history stage, from that elusive Krishna Lover, Radha who challenged all modern percepts too....Radha is human, she rails, chides, and sulks with Krishna, never mind that it is an illicit love; and is all the more adorable for it.
Ambapali was denied her stature as a senior Buddhis nun whose unforgettable poem dignified her quest for immortality after she gave up her vaunted position in the Vaishali court. Giving up power is never easy; but Ambapali reinvented herself dramatically -- a fact finally acknowledged belatedly.
Razia Sultan vaulted into history with her ambition to the horror of her male compatriots. It took an outsider to set aside their scurrilous aspersions to award her the title of the only Warleader of the Iltutmish dynasty -- Lashgarkash.
Meera is found by Ira Mukhouty, to have been whitewashed into sainthood, despite being a reluctant bride, disappointing bahu who refused to bow to the family goddess and refused to commit sati! she put away her symbols of marriage, of widowhood, and caste to walk off into the wilderness looking for her Girdhar Gopal. It is as if sanitization for freedom myths by Gandhi & co. entailed giving Meera a semi-divine status to create the image of a Satyagrahi or a white-clad Fakir.
There are others including Jahan Ara and Hazrat Mahal of Oudh, both undoubtedly great and courageous women of their times who could and did stare down the men they dealt with. But Ms. Mukhouty's revelations of the story behind the Rani of Jhansi truly upset history's bandwagon so long drawn along by accounts of the country's premier freedom fighter against British rule. Delving into other contemporary accounts of what actually happened during those crucial years:
An opulent Rani who went into battle in her royal regalia, totally conscious of her 'royal' status, negotiated long and hard for her adopted son's right to the Jhansi throne. This raises questions over whether the Rani may have joined the Indian cause if her proposals had been accepted! Bairhal.... what does emerge is that the whole Independence Queen legend of jumping off the battlements of the fort with her child strapped on her back was the creation of later day nationalists looking for a female figure to add luster to their battle. The battlements were too high for a horse to survive the jump, the 'child' ten years old and too big to be on her back!
But yes, the Rani of Jhansi did die in battle at the hands of a trooper; but her men rose up to snatch her body for last rites without being touched by profane hands ---- and the eventual crowning of Independence Queen.
Many Thanks to Ira Mukhouty for clearing so much air and going to the sources, without being waylaid by tales to resurrect our Heroines. It so reminded me of my book Mastani that cleared her of the Muslim dancing girl labels to establish her as a Princess from Bundelkhand.
August 13, 2023
each of these women can be a separate book in themselves. But the author does a good job in setting up the environment of each character and their good/bad things. I learnt small little details about almost all of these indian women. I had no idea about drapaudi's anger towards her husbands for their failure to protect her honor, Radha's jealously towards other gopis in Krishna's life. Not both these women may be mythical, but they hold key space in modern INDIAN consciusness.
The 1857 queens, Hazrat Mahal & Rani Laxmibai, have great historical stories and the writer is having a lot of fun here. They both stayed anti British right till the end.
Jahanara was a tragic figure and with her ended the mughal splendor. She was a sufi-murid of her time and never married. Add another name to the long list of great Timurid women.
Raziya sultana and Meerabai had tough lives, both did something against the rules set for them of the time. Raziya was the first women ruler of Delhi, daughter of a slave Turk king, and died fighting to restore her crown. Meerabai refused sati and became a bhakt of a religious diety and stepped out of her marital house which was quite radical.
Modern indians should learn about these women, their lives adn deeds, and maybe our daughters can use that as a springboard for great accomplishments.
The 1857 queens, Hazrat Mahal & Rani Laxmibai, have great historical stories and the writer is having a lot of fun here. They both stayed anti British right till the end.
Jahanara was a tragic figure and with her ended the mughal splendor. She was a sufi-murid of her time and never married. Add another name to the long list of great Timurid women.
Raziya sultana and Meerabai had tough lives, both did something against the rules set for them of the time. Raziya was the first women ruler of Delhi, daughter of a slave Turk king, and died fighting to restore her crown. Meerabai refused sati and became a bhakt of a religious diety and stepped out of her marital house which was quite radical.
Modern indians should learn about these women, their lives adn deeds, and maybe our daughters can use that as a springboard for great accomplishments.
January 11, 2020
Heroines written by - Ira Mukhoty
Published by - Rupa Publications (Aleph Book)
Price - 499
Date - Jan 2017
Language - English
Pages - 200
Dimensions - 24x14.5x2.5 cm
Heroines by Ira Mukhoty talks about 8 Great Women from Indian Mythology and History. It has stories of 2 women from Mythology and 6 women from History . It presents short biographies life history of these women . The writer also includes a conclusion para and justifies why these 8 women are called 'Heroines' by her . This book gives us an insight about the social condition of the women during their respective periods and extraordinary steps/ valour showed by them. One may also come a cross many unknown facts/stories on them. Stories of 8 women are presented in ascending order according to their age. This book is highly recommended to women of this country to read and get inspired by the works of these women of our Past!
Reader rating - 4.5/5
Reviewed by Ankush Rai for Get the facts History
IG @getthefactshistory
Published by - Rupa Publications (Aleph Book)
Price - 499
Date - Jan 2017
Language - English
Pages - 200
Dimensions - 24x14.5x2.5 cm
Heroines by Ira Mukhoty talks about 8 Great Women from Indian Mythology and History. It has stories of 2 women from Mythology and 6 women from History . It presents short biographies life history of these women . The writer also includes a conclusion para and justifies why these 8 women are called 'Heroines' by her . This book gives us an insight about the social condition of the women during their respective periods and extraordinary steps/ valour showed by them. One may also come a cross many unknown facts/stories on them. Stories of 8 women are presented in ascending order according to their age. This book is highly recommended to women of this country to read and get inspired by the works of these women of our Past!
Reader rating - 4.5/5
Reviewed by Ankush Rai for Get the facts History
IG @getthefactshistory
October 23, 2020
"Heroines" stands out in all the history books, studies and fiction I have read, especially because of its approach.
It does not gloss over the human nature of the women Ira Mukhoty has chosen to present, nor does it give them a secondary treatment as many books do.
By choosing to analyse and place in context each woman and her choices, the books brings out the best and worst of each of these remarkable women.
It was q truly amazing read, even and specially for those heroines that have been popularly represented in written and visual media. It was refreshing to read insights that are difficult to find in popular representations.
It does not gloss over the human nature of the women Ira Mukhoty has chosen to present, nor does it give them a secondary treatment as many books do.
By choosing to analyse and place in context each woman and her choices, the books brings out the best and worst of each of these remarkable women.
It was q truly amazing read, even and specially for those heroines that have been popularly represented in written and visual media. It was refreshing to read insights that are difficult to find in popular representations.
November 2, 2020
I wish these were full length biographies for each of these “Heroines� instead of being such condensed versions of their entire lives. But alas, they and thousands of other Indian heroines are doomed to remain unknown or end up a single line in propaganda history textbooks ... some get a paragraph but only if their story can be moulded into patriarchally friendly content, promoting the sansakari naari, chaste goddess or a mother India type figure.
Well written and researched. I would request the author to cover the rest of the regions and more of the unknown heroines.
Well written and researched. I would request the author to cover the rest of the regions and more of the unknown heroines.
September 6, 2021
Ira Mukhoty has fast become one of my favorite authors. She provides such a fresh view on history specifically the rarely-depicted side of women in history with strong views. It has awakened my interest in history particularly Indian History. The only reason this book gets a 4 star is because in a collection of stories, it is always a mixed bag. Some grapples you and stays with you forever while the others still being fantastic lacks a bit of je nais se qoius.
My Favorite Chapters (Not Characters): Draupadi, Meerabai, Jahanara and Hazrat Mahal.
My Favorite Chapters (Not Characters): Draupadi, Meerabai, Jahanara and Hazrat Mahal.
January 31, 2023
Ira Mukothy's Heroines is an excellent collection of short, non-fiction stories, each one focusing on an eminent and important woman from India's past. Two quasi-mythological, six factual, the stories cover some of history's lesser know women (eg. Ambapali) or lesser known facts of history's better known women (eg. Rani Laxmibai).
My favourite, by far, was reading about Jahanara, Shah Jahan's fascinating eldest daughter.
Such books are important to reclaim our own history, our female heroines, and to erase and rewrite what history, mostly through a Colonial lens, has taught us.
My favourite, by far, was reading about Jahanara, Shah Jahan's fascinating eldest daughter.
Such books are important to reclaim our own history, our female heroines, and to erase and rewrite what history, mostly through a Colonial lens, has taught us.
June 21, 2024
The book highlights the extraordinary lives of women from different geographical expanse of the country and varied timelines.
Each story holds down in their roots of women who have embarked on the journey of leaving remarkable imprints in the history otherwise guided by the patriarchal norms.
It’s a brilliant effort by the author to curate the lives of these eight Indian women from different centuries and bring it to the light to the audience, most of which who are otherwise conveniently forgotten from the contemporary readings on Indian history.
Each story holds down in their roots of women who have embarked on the journey of leaving remarkable imprints in the history otherwise guided by the patriarchal norms.
It’s a brilliant effort by the author to curate the lives of these eight Indian women from different centuries and bring it to the light to the audience, most of which who are otherwise conveniently forgotten from the contemporary readings on Indian history.
May 24, 2020
The author talks about 8 women in history and mythology most of who have acquired iconic status in our culture. But what’s great About this book is that it humanizes the characters reveals where history has been taken over by legends and myths and needs and culture of the time has indeed overwritten the truth.
This is not a literary Adventure but rather a historical adventure in to the lives of these 8 extraordinary women from whom we can learn a lot
This is not a literary Adventure but rather a historical adventure in to the lives of these 8 extraordinary women from whom we can learn a lot
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