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Unveiling India
The women in this book are not extraordinary or famous, and yet their stories and testimonies, narrated here by one of India s best-known women journalists, provide a passionate, often deeply touching, revelation of what it means to be a woman in India today.
The women tell of marriage and widowhood, unfair work practices, sexual servitude, the problems of bearing and rearing children in poverty, religion, discrimination, other forms of exploitation. Yet they also talk of fulfilling relationships, the joys of marriage and children, the exhilaration of breaking free from the bonds of tradition, ritual, caste, religion... Interwoven with all this is the story of one woman s journey of how Anees Jung, the author, brought up in purdah, succeeded in shaking off the restricting influences of her traditional upbringing to become a highly successful, independent career woman, still a comparatively rare phenomenon in India.
As such, the book is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the women of India the silent majority that is now beginning to make itself heard.
The women tell of marriage and widowhood, unfair work practices, sexual servitude, the problems of bearing and rearing children in poverty, religion, discrimination, other forms of exploitation. Yet they also talk of fulfilling relationships, the joys of marriage and children, the exhilaration of breaking free from the bonds of tradition, ritual, caste, religion... Interwoven with all this is the story of one woman s journey of how Anees Jung, the author, brought up in purdah, succeeded in shaking off the restricting influences of her traditional upbringing to become a highly successful, independent career woman, still a comparatively rare phenomenon in India.
As such, the book is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the women of India the silent majority that is now beginning to make itself heard.
- GenresNonfictionIndiaTravel
128 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1987
18 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Anees Jung
15 books18 followersAnees Jung is an Indian woman author, journalist and a columnist for major newspapers in India and abroad, whose most noted work, Unveiling India (1987) was a detailed chronicle of the lives of women in India, noted especially for the detailed depiction of Muslim women behind the veil.
Courtsey : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anees_Jung
Courtsey : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anees_Jung
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 19, 2011
There are many books and movies that have tried to depict India, painting a picture of the land, the villages, the traditions, the superstitions, the colors, the spices, the festivals, along with the developing urban world of sky scrapers and modern thoughts juxtaposed with the still struggling and canopied rural world. The bare truths make some turn away with embarrassment, some wince with anger coated with shame, some ridicule and laugh to shield themselves, and others seeped in denial angrily retort, claiming a bias. However, this book has been one of the first of it's kind to bring about an emotional connection far beyond mere empathy. Neither a documentary of facts, nor a fictional fantasy; neither a treatise of self-imposed thoughts, nor a play of drama. The book is the story of India's women - told by them, in their own simple words.
The author Anees Jung, is a Muslim woman from Hyderabad blessed with a liberal father. She was fortunate to break out of the mold and establish herself with education and a career. She stands as the face of the Indian urban woman - fiercely independent, financially stable, progressive in her thoughts, and brave in facing life alone... although she constantly struggles with the inner conflict between the traditional culture that seems to root her to the land and inexplicably enough, also seems to form a part of who she is, and with her rational thoughts that torment and contradict the very same culture. A tug of war that is familiar to all urban Indian women, who are often lost in defining their identities. Yet, despite coming from a world so very different from the rural women, along with Jung every Indian woman (or perhaps every woman) who reads the book can instantly associate with the stories of women taken from the hearts and depths of India's villages. I could easily associate with the helplessness of young girls being pushed into a life they are not ready for, despite me being so much more blessed in my life. It is as vivid as listening to my domestic maid recount the story of her life. The book characterizes the diversity of the land by bringing stories from villages and previously unheard of tribes from the east, west, north, and south of India.
For an Indian, the stories have been heard, the superstitions and crimes based on them are all too familiar. I could see my great grandmother, my grandmother, my great aunt, my domestic maid, the sales girl in Spencer's and many more women from my life through the stories. A bit sad that even after a hundred years, there are girls who are still subjected to the same brutal treatment as my great grandmother. But the book explores the collective strength of women when they bravely unite to demand respect for themselves and to establish meaning in their lives, and that to me was most inspiring. The stories highlight not just the heart wrenching state of affairs, but also assert the immense potential for change that lie within women.
Anees Jung's writing flows limpidly. I love how she effortlessly strings beautiful and profound insights into sentences without making them seem heavy and weighed down with emotions. She reaches a middle ground between apathy (of stating facts), and heavy drama, which is quite popular while dealing with subjects like these. Her writing has a quiet sense of resignation while she encounters beliefs and superstitions, a dignified sense of acceptance and respect to those women who choose to have faith in them and an optimistic view point while thinking of their future. As a feminist, she doesn't go overboard with any strong opinions lashing against men, culture and superstition. She doesn't fuel the reader with rage but guides them to think in terms of workable solutions.
A touching book that makes the modern feminist who fights and asserts her right to not cook breakfast everyday, rethink the priorities of her battle, to appreciate her life and to probably fight and spend her energy on more worthier battles
The author Anees Jung, is a Muslim woman from Hyderabad blessed with a liberal father. She was fortunate to break out of the mold and establish herself with education and a career. She stands as the face of the Indian urban woman - fiercely independent, financially stable, progressive in her thoughts, and brave in facing life alone... although she constantly struggles with the inner conflict between the traditional culture that seems to root her to the land and inexplicably enough, also seems to form a part of who she is, and with her rational thoughts that torment and contradict the very same culture. A tug of war that is familiar to all urban Indian women, who are often lost in defining their identities. Yet, despite coming from a world so very different from the rural women, along with Jung every Indian woman (or perhaps every woman) who reads the book can instantly associate with the stories of women taken from the hearts and depths of India's villages. I could easily associate with the helplessness of young girls being pushed into a life they are not ready for, despite me being so much more blessed in my life. It is as vivid as listening to my domestic maid recount the story of her life. The book characterizes the diversity of the land by bringing stories from villages and previously unheard of tribes from the east, west, north, and south of India.
For an Indian, the stories have been heard, the superstitions and crimes based on them are all too familiar. I could see my great grandmother, my grandmother, my great aunt, my domestic maid, the sales girl in Spencer's and many more women from my life through the stories. A bit sad that even after a hundred years, there are girls who are still subjected to the same brutal treatment as my great grandmother. But the book explores the collective strength of women when they bravely unite to demand respect for themselves and to establish meaning in their lives, and that to me was most inspiring. The stories highlight not just the heart wrenching state of affairs, but also assert the immense potential for change that lie within women.
Anees Jung's writing flows limpidly. I love how she effortlessly strings beautiful and profound insights into sentences without making them seem heavy and weighed down with emotions. She reaches a middle ground between apathy (of stating facts), and heavy drama, which is quite popular while dealing with subjects like these. Her writing has a quiet sense of resignation while she encounters beliefs and superstitions, a dignified sense of acceptance and respect to those women who choose to have faith in them and an optimistic view point while thinking of their future. As a feminist, she doesn't go overboard with any strong opinions lashing against men, culture and superstition. She doesn't fuel the reader with rage but guides them to think in terms of workable solutions.
A touching book that makes the modern feminist who fights and asserts her right to not cook breakfast everyday, rethink the priorities of her battle, to appreciate her life and to probably fight and spend her energy on more worthier battles
February 3, 2023
A collection of interviews conducted by the author of women residing in remote Indian villages narrating their stories of fear and fortitude, exploitation and empowerment, marginalisation and resistance; and everything in between. The book is not compartmentalised into separate episodes and interviews with different women but follows a continuous narrative with the author picking up stories according to the concern at hand; and after the other goes on narrating the multiplicity of women’s realities in India - religion and it’s boundaries diminish in this narrative where what emerges the strongest is the women’s will to survive.
October 19, 2023
I picked it up because I was interested by the idea of exploring India via the point of view of the women. India, as a land, has often been painted by the point of view of men, but barely ever women. It is because of this that the book interested me. However, reading it was a different experience altogether. It was jumbled, crunched together, and yet somehow very distant. Jung apparently travelled to a multiple places and took interviews of women who had it tough to tell their tales - a strong move; and yet, the tales were unable to give individuality to the women or the kind of respect that they were due. That is what struck me the most about this book, and why it disappointed me so.
August 6, 2019
In the words of Indira Gandhi : The Indian woman is not just the conserved of tradition but also the absorber of the shocks of future. Therefore, she must be a bridge and a synthesizer.....
I picked this book because of its earthy skin coloured woman in half veil and her quite eyes looking down. I was truly mesmerised by the simple, minimalistic cover design of the book. The book is a collection of real life events and wisdoms shared by few of the unknown women across the country, from different social status, backgrounds, religion & communities. The women in this book are not extraordinary or famous and yet their stories and testimonies narrated in the book by the author provides a passionate, often deeply touching revelation of what it means to be A WOMAN in India even today. No matter how much developed as a country we are now, there is still the other side of the coin of womanhood.
The headings of the chapters in the book resonates the idea of women from all walks of life, perceiving different aspects of life gradually as they age, travel & mature. Even if a woman is confined in the four walls of her house and may not pursue her free choices, she is capable of acquiring a set of values which is commendable to lead life with zeal. It’s like you don’t until you see yourself the treasure beneath the sand.
The women in the book tell of different semblances of life, how it is to be married, how is life for a widow, unfair work practices, sexual servitude, the problem of bearing & rearing children in poverty, religion, discrimination, other exploitation. And they as well talk about the other side of the coin, the joy of marriage, the happiness that motherhood brings in, the exhilaration of breaking free from the bonds of tradition, ritual, caste, religion. Interwoven with all this is the story of one women’s journey....how Anees Jung, the author, brought up in purdah / veil, succeeded in shaking off the restricting influences of her traditional upbringing to become a highly successful, independent career woman. The book evinces that all Indian women are stories of each other at some point and some circumstances.
I picked this book because of its earthy skin coloured woman in half veil and her quite eyes looking down. I was truly mesmerised by the simple, minimalistic cover design of the book. The book is a collection of real life events and wisdoms shared by few of the unknown women across the country, from different social status, backgrounds, religion & communities. The women in this book are not extraordinary or famous and yet their stories and testimonies narrated in the book by the author provides a passionate, often deeply touching revelation of what it means to be A WOMAN in India even today. No matter how much developed as a country we are now, there is still the other side of the coin of womanhood.
The headings of the chapters in the book resonates the idea of women from all walks of life, perceiving different aspects of life gradually as they age, travel & mature. Even if a woman is confined in the four walls of her house and may not pursue her free choices, she is capable of acquiring a set of values which is commendable to lead life with zeal. It’s like you don’t until you see yourself the treasure beneath the sand.
The women in the book tell of different semblances of life, how it is to be married, how is life for a widow, unfair work practices, sexual servitude, the problem of bearing & rearing children in poverty, religion, discrimination, other exploitation. And they as well talk about the other side of the coin, the joy of marriage, the happiness that motherhood brings in, the exhilaration of breaking free from the bonds of tradition, ritual, caste, religion. Interwoven with all this is the story of one women’s journey....how Anees Jung, the author, brought up in purdah / veil, succeeded in shaking off the restricting influences of her traditional upbringing to become a highly successful, independent career woman. The book evinces that all Indian women are stories of each other at some point and some circumstances.
August 20, 2020
Truly feminist book. Central moto is empowering women.This book is nearly 30 years old, and so India has changed quite a bit since its publishing. The stories told though are so compelling and help to present a historical context for women's roles in India.
August 15, 2025
I'm speechless after reading this book! This book most definitely talks about a woman's journey from hardships to freedom and strength. If there's something I've learned by reading the narratives of the women, it's resilience! Loved it !
May 28, 2022
Thought provoking and bold. Must read for every Indian
March 16, 2023
I'd love to read a more modern version of this book, but I still absolutely loved it. It was filled with so many different perspectives!
December 22, 2025
Good reminder of how far we have come in regards to feminism and how lucky and privileged I am to be born in Sweden.
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Having spent five years of my childhood in India I am often met with surprise and asked if I liked it. It’s a complicated question, because I loved it, but I was an outsider, I was very sheltered from the ways the women in this book are treated… Of course two things can be true - I can love my experience there while also recognizing the hardships that remain for local people. It’s important to remember both when talking about the experience.
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Having spent five years of my childhood in India I am often met with surprise and asked if I liked it. It’s a complicated question, because I loved it, but I was an outsider, I was very sheltered from the ways the women in this book are treated… Of course two things can be true - I can love my experience there while also recognizing the hardships that remain for local people. It’s important to remember both when talking about the experience.
Read
January 5, 2016This book is nearly 30 years old, and so India has changed quite a bit since its publishing. The stories told though are so compelling and help to present a historical context for women's roles in India. Moving, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at the same time - I definitely would recommend this book.
February 24, 2013
Sensitive writing in women in India: http://www.anureviews.com/unveiling-i...
June 12, 2015
A must read!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews