The Lost Heer: Women in Colonial Punjab

by Harleen Singh Sandhu

As a province hailed by the British as the ‘sword arm of India’, masculinity remained a key pillar of Punjabi identity in colonial times. Observers largely looked at Punjab’s women through this blurred lens and women-centric narratives are largely missing in the available literature from colonial Punjab. Women featured as daughters of sardars, as wives of kings, mothers of statesmen and widows of emperors, their personality revolving around the men whose honour and pride they were upholding.

The Lost Heer seeks to go beyond these male-centric narratives and shed light on the struggles, resilience, and contributions of women in colonial Punjab. By excavating material from archives, oral narratives and accounts of women in regional literature, this work seeks to put women at the centre of its account.

From figures like Aas Kaur, Mai Fatto and Bibi Sahib Kaur in the early colonial period to latter-day figures like Manmohini Zutshi and Raghbir Kaur to completely forgotten figures like Dr. Premdevi (probably the first qualified lady doctor of Punjab) and Khadija Begum Ferozeuddin (the ‘first Punjabi lady MA’), this work enriches our knowledge of the history of Punjab by choosing to focus on a section of society who have not received their due.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

547 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2025

Reviews

[Ananya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punjab's history is too often told and valorised through the lens of martial masculinity and the "sons of the soil". The Lost Heer offers a long-overdue corrective, placing its women at the heart of the narrative. Full review for BS: https://www.business-standard.com/boo...

[Vandana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book describes the role of great women in the history of India, specifically Punjab.

I was amazed to know about the bravery and wit of these valiant ladies. These unsung / forgotten heroines have played a major role in the ancient India by not only helping in the peaceful administration but also coming forward , taking charge and implementing courageous schemes to outsmart the enemies.

We have been told about Rani Lakshmi Bai and her contribution in the freedom struggle numerous times but these valiant queens who stood their ground even in most adverse situations like Fatto, Bibi kaur, Nur Un Nissa etc are somehow lost in time.

Back when I was a kid, history centred around the freedom struggle was one of my favourite topics, that's why I loved this book so much. Even though it's a non-fiction book, it is gripping and a complete page turner.

Read this book for a wholesome experience. Writing is lucid and everything is explained in detail. There are some very beautiful vintage photographs of Punjab which will take you on a nostalgic ride. The book cover is absolutely gorgeous too.

[Rounak · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A hymn to the unheard, a garland woven from forgotten names.”

The Lost Heer : Harleen Singh delicately unravels the muted history of colonial Punjab, allowing the voices of its women to emerge — cracked yet resilient, tender yet fearless. Through dusty archives, fading oral histories, and the intricate threads of regional literature, this book transcends mere historical documentation; it becomes a powerful act of resurrection.

Each page resembles a worn photograph — capturing Aas Kaur’s defiance, Mai Fatto’s presence, and Bibi Sahib Kaur’s unwavering spirit. These women, who have long been relegated to the sidelines of male narratives, now come alive through Singh’s careful, almost reverent storytelling. Their names, once mere footnotes in grand tales of war and empire, blossom into rich narratives of resistance, care, healing, and rebellion. Dr. Premdevi and Khadija Begum Ferozeuddin — names that might be unfamiliar to many — now resonate with strength and elegance.

He writes with the tenderness of someone healing ancestral wounds and the passion of someone determined to combat erasure. The prose carries a nostalgic quality — measured, evocative, infused with the colors of Punjab’s mustard fields and the shadows of its partitioned history.

The Lost Heer stands as a lyrical uprising against silence — a guide back to the women who were always present, observing, mourning, laboring, and waiting. It accomplishes what history often neglects: it remembers with love.

Apart from being a book; it’s a homecoming. A tribute. A requiem transformed into a renaissance.

[Shruti k · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve always been told about Punjab’s men—kings, sardars, warriors—the so-called ‘sword arm of India’. But what about the women? The ones who ruled, resisted, healed, and led in their own quiet, powerful ways? Most history books forgot them. This book brings them back into the light.

This book isn’t just a collection of forgotten names—it’s a tribute to resilience. From Mai Fatto and Bibi Sahib Kaur in the early colonial period to Manmohini Zutshi and Khadija Begum in later years, these women challenged everything—patriarchy, caste, class, colonialism.  Each one had courage running in her veins. And reading their stories gave me goosebumps.

As a woman, I’ve always been drawn to stories of unsung heroines—those who never made it to textbooks but made real change. These women may not have had armies or thrones, but they had willpower, heart, and a voice that refused to be silenced. Why do we only celebrate heroes who became famous? Why not women who did just as much, if not more, and never even asked for recognition?

This book reminded me that our history is incomplete without them. It draws from oral tales, archives, letters, and forgotten books to weave their lives back into our memory. Harleen Singh writes with care, honesty, and a deep desire to give these women the place they always deserved.

If you love reading about strong women, hidden histories, and voices that rise from silence—thjs is a must-read. It’s not just a book—it’s a reclaiming of what should’ve never been lost in the first place.

[Komal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a subject that has rarely been discussed in print. Sandhu writes about all women in colonial Punjab, women of all classes, religions, ethnicities.