Simultaneously a history, a biography, and an imaginative work of fiction, this book is an invaluable contribution to the reclamation of history by feminist writers. Drawing from historical documents, folk tales, poetry and oral tradition-the novel constructs a detailed picture of the legendary Indian heroine, Lakshmibai, the Queen of Jhansi, who led her troops against the British in the uprising of 1857, now widely described as the first Indian War of Independence. Mahasweta Devi’s prolific writing career was launched with the publication of Jhansir Rani (1956). Translated into English as The Queen of Jhansi by Sagaree and Mandira Sengupta (2010)
A powerful text, Rudali is considered an important feminist text for contemporary India.
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Rudali, based on the life of Sanichari, a poor low-caste village woman and a professional mourner, is an ironic tale of exploitation and struggle and above all survival. Her Bengali novel, Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa delved into the life of an ordinary Indian mother fighting against all odds to retain the memory of her dead son. Mahasweta Devi has been known as one of the boldest female writers in India. The title story ‘The Sandal Trees’ is the English translation of ‘Chandanamarangal’ (1988) which charts a four-decade-long sexual and emotional relationship between two women that echoes the relationship between Kamala and the college girlfriend in My Story. Originally written in Malayalam by Kamala Das under the pen name Madhavikutty, the stories in this anthology (1995) deal with the nuances of human relationships and intrigues of love, life and death. Translated into English by by V C Harris and C K Mohamed The Sandal Trees and Other Stories by Kamala Das The book managed to evoke such a widespread reaction that it went on to become a cult classic and has stood the test of time, as one of the most enduring accounts of the life of a woman writer in India. She introduced her readers to the concept of female sexuality, a notion that was non-existent in the conservative society of Kerala, until then. Originally published in Malayalam, this autobiographical novel provided a lens into the personal and professional experiences of Kamala Das, as an independent-minded woman navigating a patriarchal society. Translated into English as My Story (1988) In her autobiographical novel, My Story originally published in Malayalam, titled Ente Katha, Das recounts the trials of her marriage and her painful self-awakening as a woman and writer. Kamala Das is best known for her fearless and unapologetic treatment of female sexuality and questioning patriarchal norms. Hyder received the Jnanpith Award in 1989 for this book. The novel also explores the growth of tension between Bengal’s Hindus and Muslims who had once shared a culture and a history. Hyder perceptively follows the trajectory of Sarkar’s life-from her secluded upbringing in Dhaka to becoming a socialist rebel, from her doomed love affair with Rehan Ahmed, a Muslim radical with Marxist inclinations, to her ultimate transformation as a diasporic Bengali cosmopolitan. Set against the four decades of East Bengal’s history-from the dawn of nationalism in the 1930s to the restless aftermath of the bloody struggle for an independent Bangladesh- Aakhir-e-Shab ke Hamsafar is told through the impassioned voice of Deepali Sarkar. Translated into English as Fireflies in the Mist by the author The author debuts in this story as Anne Hyder and fictionalises her experience during the communal riots in Dehradun. This novel is the coming-of-age story of a privileged set of six friends from Awadh that combines autobiography, fiction, and the documentation of time and place. Spanning roughly three decades (1920s to 1950s), Safina-e-Gham-e-Dil is Qurratulain Hyder’s second work and derives its title from a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Translated into English as Ship of Sorrows by Saleem Kidwai (2019) The female characters in most of her works are portrayed as independent individuals rather than being known through the male lens.
It tells a story that moves from fourth century BC to the post-Independence period in India and Pakistan. One of the most outstanding literary names in Urdu literature, she is best known for her magnum opus, Aag Ka Darya. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, let us celebrate them by celebrating their written word. Yet, their writing has radically questioned the patriarchy and societal inequality, and created an inclusive, thought-provoking representation of women in Indian literature. Here are fifteen women from across Indian languages who gave us a glimpse of the inner workings of society from behind the four walls. Often, the inspiration for a significant change is born from the most mundane of battles. Women Writers in Indian Languages 15 Indian language women writers who should feature on your reading list