Dance to Freedom

by AK Gandhi

Dance to Freedom uncovers the untold tales of tawaifs, unrecognized heroes in India's fight for independence. Highlighting their vital contribution to the freedom movement, this book showcases their artistic brilliance and resilience against British oppression. It celebrates their enduring influence on Indian culture and politics, serving as a poignant tribute to these forgotten heroes who, through dance and defiance, made an indelible impact on the struggle for freedom. A must-read, this book unveils the untold stories that shaped India's history. Tawaifs - Pioneers of Dance and Freedom in India?Explore the unheard stories of tawaifs— a group often overlooked in the narrative of India's struggle for independence.?Delve into their art and how it influenced Indian society, their accepted social status, as well as their unjust treatment and marginalization.?An insight into the political, socio-cultural, and historical context of India's independence struggle?Highlights how tawaifs broke the boundaries of gender roles and used their art to support the freedom movement.?A unique perspective on traditional historical narratives.

392 pages, Hardcover

Published July 28, 2024

Reviews

[Riddhima · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts off promising. Then becomes a mere record of events with no endless statistics. One can go pages without a mention of the tawaifs.

[Bhawana Somaaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some books that attract you by the title, some attract you by the cover, some attract you by the image and you start loving the book even before you have started reading it. For me one of the recent books where that happened is Dance to Freedom. Written by A.K Gandhi, Dance To Freedom is a story from ghungroos to gunpowder. AK Gandhi is a prolific historian, translator, author and this book is truly a labour of love. Tawaif was a very renowned person for the elite in the British Raj time and then slowly due to the political changes and social changes her position declined and there was a paradigm shift. The author explains to you the different terms of why she is called (they are either addressed as Bais or Begums) a tawaif, when is she called a nartaki, then a nautch girl and finally a prostitute. There is pathos, pain, and stories within stories.

What is attractive about the book is also the timing. Because Sanjay Leela Bhansali has just come out with his magnum opus Heeramandi on an OTT platform and those watching the series will be attracted to this book. Or maybe there will be people who will read the book and be attracted to the series. As they say its not what you write but at what time you write that makes a difference. This is a wonderful book and I am completely mesmerized. So go for it as the author is more than worth it and I love the cover as well.