Deepti Priya Mehrotra

Her-Stories-Indian Women Down the Ages Deepti Priya Mehrotra

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.