HER STORIES - INDIAN WOMEN DOWN THE AGES - THINKERS WORKERS REBELS QUEENS

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.