Heroines of History : Stories of India’s Princesses

by Nikita Puri

The women in these stories didn’t just inhabit the world; they helped shape it.
In a world dominated by stories of great kings and incomparable heroes, the tales of women who have lived equally challenging lives have largely faded away. Heroines of History aims to be a portal, a passage through time, to rediscover those stories across time and geography.
Women of noble blood, these princesses turned into heroines and braved the storms of their life and the times they lived in. Noor, a descendant of Tipu Sultan, couldn’t bear to tell a lie and yet circumstances demanded she become a spy during the Second World War. Sophia, the daughter of the last Maharaja of Punjab, became a firebrand activist. Kashmir’s Didda shaped a dynasty, while Shehzaadi Gulbadan documented stories from Mughal India in ways no one ever did. In the south, Velu Nachiyar won her kingdom back from the British.
The women we meet in this book did incredible things. As poets, writers, skilled administrators and warriors, each managed to change the world, rewriting the rules for all who followed. These are their stories—of courage, resistance and persistence.

Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Nikita Puri is an award-winning journalist who has spent over 12 years writing about people and places, science and environment, and arts and culture. She has worked with the India Today Group, The Indian Express, Business Standard and Tech in Asia.

Her understanding of India is shaped by a childhood marked by constant change, moving from city to city and discovering the country through local food, customs and languages. When she is not writing on the tech ecosystem spanning India and Southeast Asia, she is piecing together her next book, a work of fiction.

She currently lives in the city of magnificent rain trees, Bangalore. Small acts of kindness give her hope. They strengthen her belief that this world could be as fantastical as the one dreamed up by writers. This is her first book non-fiction. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reviews

[Asha Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Heroines of History' by Nikita Puri is an eye-opener of a book introducing readers to some of the historical women figures of India who never received their due credit and have been forgotten with time. These princesses did incredible things, but not many people know about them because history has a way of celebrating men and tends to disregard women and their achievements. In the book, Puri talks about eight such princesses, their journeys, their struggles, their passion, and how they influenced the society.

The book is a portkey to the historical periods in Indian history and gives us a peek into the lives of 8 princesses:
Sophia - the daughter of Ranjit Singh, the Lion of Punjab, Gulbadan - the adept historian from Emperor Akbar's court, Velu - who led a rebellion to win her kingdom back from the East India Company, Amrit - who joined India's freedom struggle, Razia - the first female sultan of Delhi, Nur Jahan - who killed a tiger to save a village, Didda - the Kashmiri woman, the shaper of a dynasty, and Noor -a descendant of Tipu Sultan.

We witness how these princesses dealt with challenges and showed remarkable grit to overthrow tyranny, defy gender prejudices, or to fight for their rights. Each of these 8 stories are unique in their own way and talk at length about the lives of these princesses and what they set out to achieve.

Puri's writing is pure pleasure and highly engaging as she unveils story after story of these highly capable and courageous women. Stories are succinct, divided in easy paragraphs and capturing only the mandatory bits so one doesn't feel overwhelmed by the content; as history generally tends to do. Page after page, history stares up at you asking, "Did you know about her?" or "Do you know what she did?" It's a closer look into certain periods of history hence the essays talk more of their regular day than expounding on the historical happenings at that age. Empowering, passionate, brave, and transformational - these woman inspired millions and ensured they left the world a better place. There's something to learn from these incredible woman and the author attempts to keep their contributions remembered through her meticulous work.

Rich in research and language, these slivers of history served on a platter take you back in time when women violating norms or reshaping society was unheard of and yet these historical figures emerged winners and how! Read 'Heroines of History' for the unforgettable and invincible contributions of Indian Women who never took 'no' for an answer and ascertained they achieved what was right and just; in whichever capacity they could. It's a remarkable account of resilience and persistence of some of the most inspiring women that history has conveniently forgotten.

[Harsh Agrawal]

Heroines of History: Stories of India’s Princesses

Author: Nikita Puri

Genre: Non Fiction

Published by Rupa Publications

Pages: 240

MRP: Rs. 295/-


Acknowledgement: Thank you @rupa_publications for a review copy of the book.


Heroines of History: Stories of India’s Princesses by Nikita Puri is a book that celebrates the lives and achievements of eight remarkable women who shaped the history of India. The book is a collection of biographical sketches that span different eras and regions, from ancient Kashmir to modern Bengal .


The author, Nikita Puri, is an award-winning journalist who has spent over 12 years writing about people and places, science and environment, and arts and culture. Her understanding of India is shaped by a childhood marked by constant change, moving from city to city and discovering the country through local food, customs, and languages .


The book is a well-researched and engaging read that brings to light the stories of women who have often been overlooked or forgotten by mainstream history. The author has done a commendable job of presenting each case’s facts and context while highlighting the challenges and struggles these women face in a patriarchal society


The stories in Heroines of History are inspiring tales of courage, resistance, and persistence. The women we meet in this book did incredible things. As poets, writers, skilled administrators, and warriors, each managed to change the world, rewriting the rules for all who followed. The book aims to be a portal, a passage through time, to rediscover those stories across time and geography. Women of noble blood, these princesses turned into heroines and braved the storms of their life and the times they lived in.


The book consists of eight stories. In each chapter, Puri shares some history about that particular woman in the beginning and in the end a box sharing some important information. Each story inspired me in its way but Sophia’s story touched my heart. The granddaughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is the reason we women can cast our vote. She fought so that we get the right to vote. Other princesses such as Noor, a descendant of Tipu Sultan, couldn’t bear to tell a lie and yet circumstances demanded she become a spy during World War II. Kashmir’s Didda shaped a dynasty while Shehzaadi Gulbadan documented stories from Mughal India in ways no one ever did. In the south, Velu Nachiyar won her kingdom back from the British.


Overall, Heroines of History: Stories of India’s Princesses is an excellent read for anyone interested in Indian history or women’s studies. The book provides an insightful look into the lives of eight remarkable women who have contributed so much to society but whose testimonies were lost over time. The stories are well-researched, and Puri has done a commendable job in bringing them to us.


If you wish to purchase the book, do consider getting it from our affiliate link. We get a small commission, at no added cost to you: https://amzn.to/3S4RLnY

[Debabrata Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Heroines of History" is a captivating and insightful exploration of the forgotten narratives of extraordinary women who defied the conventions of their time. In a world where stories of great kings and heroes have long dominated the historical narrative, this book serves as a much-needed portal to rediscover the remarkable tales of these unsung heroines.

The book begins by introducing us to a group of noble-born women who defied societal norms and embraced the challenges in their lives. Noor, a descendant of Tipu Sultan, is highlighted for her unwavering integrity as she becomes a spy during World War II. Her transformation from a principled individual to an espionage agent illustrates the sacrifices women made during times of crisis.

The book also features Sophia, the daughter of Punjab's last Maharaja, who becomes a passionate activist challenging patriarchy. Her story emphasizes courage and resistance. Additionally, it delves into the enigmatic Didda, who played a pivotal role in Kashmir's dynasty. Her strategic brilliance & political leadership are showcased, highlighting her exceptional qualities.

Shehzaadi Gulbadan, as a chronicler in Mughal India, offers a distinctive historical perspective. Her documentation underscores the influence of the written word in shaping our historical comprehension and introduces a crucial female viewpoint into the predominantly male-dominated historical records.

In the southern region, Velu Nachiyar's remarkable journey to reclaim her kingdom from the British stands as an inspiring testament to her determination and warrior skills. Her story emphasizes that women were not passive bystanders but active agents of historical change.

The book goes beyond depicting these women as victims and showcases them as poets, writers, capable administrators, and warriors who defied adversity to reshape their world. Their stories celebrate the enduring spirit of women in history and challenge traditional narratives that portray them as passive and marginalized figures.

In conclusion, it is a meticulously researched and beautifully narrated book that sheds light on the lives of extraordinary women who defied societal norms.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Ekta M · Rating 4 out of 5]

History has seen countless powerful and inspirational women.... women who did truly incredible things. But their stories have gotten lost. This book is an attempt to revisit those stories.



Genre - Non Fiction ( short stories)
Published by @rupa_publications
Pages 240
Ebook available.

The testimony of women's stories has been so sparse that Historical women are almost invisible.

This book is a documentation of the lives of some of India's lesser known Princesses who contributed so much throughout history. They didn't just inhabit the world but helped reshape it. These women are not given the deserved credit but everyone should know the contributions they made.

Sophia Duleep Singh, the grand daughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh risked everything so that women could get the right to vote.

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, a sportsperson, a Gandhian social reformer worked towards access to quality healthcare.

Velu Nachiyar led a rebellion to win her kingdom back from the British. She waited around 8 years for this.

These above 3 are my fav from the book. There are more in tbe book. It has total 8 stories. The author has done a commendable job in researching and putting together these stories.These are not just stories after all but serve as a catalyst when we need to make tough decisions.

Besides stories of these women the book also shares a great deal of information on Historical events dating back to year 958.

I also liked how at the end of every chapter there is a box with highlighted words related to the chapter by the author for the readers.

Such books are a great way to put women back in the picture and also at dismantling stereotypes.

I enjoyed reading these stories. Although non-fiction, the book didn't seem like a drag or boring. The narration is good which will keep you immersed in the book.

[Ruchi Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the cover and tagline of the book. So I had to pick it up. I am always fascinated towards the stories that have strong female protagonist. Her the tagline of the story is “Stories of India’s princesses”. This book is documentarion of lives of some of India’s princesses. Glimpses of the world these women lived in. They made up tough calls and overcame hardships against all the odds. The book consists of eight stories. Here I will discuss one that is my favourite. That will give you idea about the book. My favourite is the story of Gulbadan princess because author started narration with surat 1575. I lived in Surat so that was fascinating for me. Gulbadan was Babur’s daughter and Humayun’s half sister. This chapter has story and struggle of her. It’s taken from ancient literature like Akbar nama and others. It seems that Gulbadan felt uncomfortable knowing her father and adoptive mother favoured Humayun over her and all their siblings. But she never expressed her feelings in writing. Gulbadan’s text and writing had been consulted for reference to harem. There are also impressive stories of other princesses such as Noor, a descendant of Tipu Sultan. She couldn’t bear to tell a lie and circumstances demanded she became a spy during world war two. There are quite few interesting stories. Read the book to know all. I liked the idea of the book. All the stories are unique and unheard of. History didn’t focus on these princesses enough. The language of the book is lucid so that everyone can pick it up. Narration style of the author is captivating. All stories are well researched and well presented. Overall good one.

[Aastha Anand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heroines of History by Nikita Puri

Heroines of History by Nikita Puri is a collection of stories about various Indian princesses who made a mark in shaping the then world and leading a life that left a mark on many but have been forgotten with the passage of time.

In this book, the author has written about 8 such Indian princesses - Sophia, Gulbadan, Velu, Amrit, Razia, Nur, Didda and Noor.
Each story is a sincere attempt to cover the hardships as well as the bravery and resistance these women showed in their hard times and emerged as Heroines of History. As I started reading the book it had my interest from the first page itself. Each story doesn't go into much detail but has a few glimpses of everything these women did because of which they deserve to be remembered. Our history is full of male names but only a few females that fought for themselves, their people or even for the independence of India, this book is Nikita’s attempt to highlight some of those forgotten heroines who stood against the wave of hate and disregard for them.

One thing that is common between all these women is their fighting spirit that is not only commendable but also a factor of motivation for anyone who will read about them. This book stands out for me in many ways such as the people chosen to be talked about, their stories, the attempt to include as much as the author could to introduce the readers to them.

I also felt that the writing style couldn't have been better to keep every reader invested once they start reading the book. I picked the book up because I like reading this genre.

Overall, I will suggest everyone to give it a read.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I think about Indian princesses, I could think of very few but I couldn't bring myself to remember their stories much. So when I saw this book and read its blurb, I knew it was time to not remain ignorant. And I'm happy I did. In this book, we get to peek into the lives of 8 remarkable Indian women.

From fighting for equal rights (Sophia) , documenting the Mughal court (Gulbadan), training an army and being a warrior (Velu Nachiar), joining the freedom movement (Amrit),
becoming a Sultan and not a Sultana (Razia), killing a tiger to save people (Nur), charting her own dynasty (Didda)
to being a spy (Noor), these 8 women fought battles for their country, as well as for their rightful place.

✨ The writing is simple and gives us all the details we need to know to get their whole story with references mentioned.
✨ My favourite parts of the book are the ending of each story. I loved how the author asked the readers to connect with these strong women with references to the places/things they left the world with and remember them.
✨ Once I read the stories, I cannot NOT appreciate the cover design. It was perfectly done.

History needs to treat them better. We need to treat them better. It's high time that these amazing women are given their rightful place in history.
If you are fascinated by the cover(and my review), pick this well researched book with a captivating narration style.

[Nilofar Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you ever find yourself at Taj Mahal, dear reader marvelling at Shah Jahan declaration of love- think also of those who lost their lives for the fickle throne. And if you ever find yourself at Nur Jahan's grave in Lahore, dear reader, ask yourself what she must have been thinking when she said no one should burn candles or strew roses on her grave. "
.
India is known for its richness in culture and ancient history. The stories of warriors, kings and the dynasties share quite a remarkable space in our history and textbooks. All about men right? What about the women who fought for their rights, written marvelous pieces of poetry and non-fiction, the women who ruled the kingdom and died on battlefield? Their contribution to mankind seems to have faded away in the dust of time. In a world dominated largely by patriarchy and strict rules against women, those brave hearts stood forward to prove their worth and potential to the world.
In a generous attempt to bring them back among people, Nikita Puri, in her book 'Heroines of History' documented the contribution of those not-so-ordinary women of their times.
Among these were Sophia- who left her royal fortunes for the rights and social causes, Gulbadan- whose strong view point from her writing influenced even the historians, Amrit- who stood besides Gandhiji against the British colonial rules, Razia- the great administrator and Delhi's 1st female ruler whose position was largely disapproved, Didda- the queen was responsible for shaping the entire Lohara dynasty, Noor- who spied the Germans in the world War and unfortunately tortured to death. Some of the other prominent figures mentioned in the book were Velu Nachiyar and Nur Jahan. Their history dated back as early as the 10th century to the modern 20th century.
Puri's writing jumped on to the next level as she made the history look intriguing and thrilling as well. The portrayal of each of the characters was beyond any formality. Apart from their sole stories, the author shared the glimpses of ongoing events associated with them, which truly does make sense and is justified.

[myliteraryworld · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Heroines of History" by Nikita Puri is a significant tribute to India's unsung princesses, spotlighting their remarkable contributions often overshadowed by the historical underrepresentation of women. Focusing on eight lesser-known princesses, Puri's meticulous research breathes life into their stories, offering insights into their journeys and lasting impacts on society. The book excels in immersing readers in the rich tapestry of historical eras, providing captivating glimpses into the cultural, social, and political landscapes. What unifies these princesses is their unwavering resilience against adversity, showcasing their remarkable strength. Each narrative, diverse in its era and achievements, delivers a captivating and unique read.

Puri's engaging narrative style strikes a balance between historical accuracy and storytelling, making the book accessible. It dispels romanticized notions of palace life, emphasizing the real challenges these women faced. "Heroines of History" enriches the discourse on women's historical roles and serves as a valuable addition to Indian women's history literature.

[Shruti k · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarojini Naidu, Rani Laxmi Bai or Savitri Phule, there were many women who were inspiring. They were powerful and their stories were written everywhere. But there were some women whose testimonies were lost over the period of time. In this book,the author is tiring to make us aware of those untold stories.

In this book,the author has written about eight such women who were princesses and have contributed so much to society. The stories are well researched and the author has done a commendable job in bringing this to us. In the beginning of each chapter,the author has shared some history about that particular woman and in the end a box sharing some important information. Each and every story inspired me in its own way but Sophia's story touched my heart. The granddaughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is the reason we women can cast their vote. She fought so that we get the right to vote.

This book was important as these women inspire us to stand up for the truth or fight for our rights. They can help us to reshape the world. The narration is really smooth so you will not feel like you are reading history.

I would surely recommend this one.

[Sejuti Majumdar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heroines of History is a collection of tales of powerful women in history whose story had not been popular and highlighted like men. This book contains stories of Gulbadan, Sophia, Noor and many more women who had led such an extraordinary life but is not spoken about.

This was an engaging and informative book but since it was non-fiction so I had a bit of struggle at first. Since this was history I carried on reading as I wanted to know the stories.

I admire the author's research on putting together all the information about these women when there is so less available as most people did not bothee to record their stories.

Thank you so much @rupa_publications for the book