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Feminist Rani
Feminist Rani is a collection of interviews with path-breaking and fascinating opinion leaders--Kalki Koechlin, Tanmay Bhatt, Gul Panag, Aditi Mittal, Gauri Sawant, and many more. These are women and men who have advocated gender equality and women's rights through their work. These compelling conversations provide a perspective on the evolving concept of feminism in an age when women are taking charge and leading the way.
- GenresFeminismNonfiction
158 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 10, 2021
I wonder why this book isn't talked about much. Maybe it was waiting for me 👈
What I understand about feminism until now is that it's about gender equality. The best book on the topic I have read so far is "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
What I understand about feminism from this read:
✔️ It isn't about male bashing
✔️ It's not about women trying to prove we can be men-like
✔️ It's not a competition or an ugly war between men and women
✔️ The topic is not a static declaration
✔️ Anyone can be a feminist without hurting anyone or being someone who would fit into becoming one because of a reason and not because it's "cool" and "happening" and everybody seems to be talking about it
✔️ It's not the responsibility of only a few but that necessarily demands everyone's involvement
What I felt while reading the book:
It is not about sexism or the patriarchal society we live in. It isn't about blaming anyone but trying to understand what we can do now or start to change our outlook on gender discrimination.
The content of the book is a collection of thoughts, opinions, experiences in relation to the theme as told by fourteen different personalities from different walks of life. I wish it included more from the male perspectives as well. Talk about gender equality, eh.
I loved knowing about what made them change their ways of thinking, which books influenced them and the good, the bad and the ugly about them being themselves taught them.
"It's easy to be honest in public and in front of others, but to remain honest behind closed doors is quite difficult."
.
.
.
He said to me, "I get all the power from my women. So if my women are empowered, imagine how much power I will get."
(We can see it in either a wrong way or the right way to interpret the meaning.)
.
.
.
"There's a lifetime of being told to sit down and be quiet and be minimized, that we have to get over."
.
.
.
"I understood then that sometimes we don't need a revolution to improve the lives of women. We need just one woman to care about the position of other women."
.
.
.
Reading such a book with so much to think about coming from different perspectives, background, expressions and experiences which I find overwhelming at times because I just cannot keep nodding my head on every aspect of the topic. I would argue less for the times I would wholeheartedly disagree because we all come with different stories and beliefs. I respect that.
And this is why I enjoy reading such books. It gives me something new to think about, to rake my brains and actually see the contents projecting themselves to what I feel would affect my life starting the moment after I just read and think about it.
I should have read this book the moment I got it and today I am glad I own two physical copies of it so that I will keep one and the other to spread the thinkacapability it will offer.
What I have to say about this book when I recommend it:
You may read it as a fiction rather than as a non-fiction as you will be reading something like a sci-fi, a fantasy tale or even as a dystopian read in which only the women are left on the planet with women listening to women (as they're the only ones left) because these stories, the people who are telling them might get a little too unfamiliar and their stories you might find a little too unconventional. Before anything else, just listen to their stories first and try to just listen.
Why I feel we must read this book:
Even though the concept of feminism is the same everywhere (should be about equality as mentioned), I feel the cultural and outlook differences do play an important part in being able to grasp and be able to relate at a deeper level. This book is better suited for us who grow up in similar environments.
What's the first word that comes to your mind when you see "feminism"?
What I understand about feminism until now is that it's about gender equality. The best book on the topic I have read so far is "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
What I understand about feminism from this read:
✔️ It isn't about male bashing
✔️ It's not about women trying to prove we can be men-like
✔️ It's not a competition or an ugly war between men and women
✔️ The topic is not a static declaration
✔️ Anyone can be a feminist without hurting anyone or being someone who would fit into becoming one because of a reason and not because it's "cool" and "happening" and everybody seems to be talking about it
✔️ It's not the responsibility of only a few but that necessarily demands everyone's involvement
What I felt while reading the book:
It is not about sexism or the patriarchal society we live in. It isn't about blaming anyone but trying to understand what we can do now or start to change our outlook on gender discrimination.
The content of the book is a collection of thoughts, opinions, experiences in relation to the theme as told by fourteen different personalities from different walks of life. I wish it included more from the male perspectives as well. Talk about gender equality, eh.
I loved knowing about what made them change their ways of thinking, which books influenced them and the good, the bad and the ugly about them being themselves taught them.
"It's easy to be honest in public and in front of others, but to remain honest behind closed doors is quite difficult."
.
.
.
He said to me, "I get all the power from my women. So if my women are empowered, imagine how much power I will get."
(We can see it in either a wrong way or the right way to interpret the meaning.)
.
.
.
"There's a lifetime of being told to sit down and be quiet and be minimized, that we have to get over."
.
.
.
"I understood then that sometimes we don't need a revolution to improve the lives of women. We need just one woman to care about the position of other women."
.
.
.
Reading such a book with so much to think about coming from different perspectives, background, expressions and experiences which I find overwhelming at times because I just cannot keep nodding my head on every aspect of the topic. I would argue less for the times I would wholeheartedly disagree because we all come with different stories and beliefs. I respect that.
And this is why I enjoy reading such books. It gives me something new to think about, to rake my brains and actually see the contents projecting themselves to what I feel would affect my life starting the moment after I just read and think about it.
I should have read this book the moment I got it and today I am glad I own two physical copies of it so that I will keep one and the other to spread the thinkacapability it will offer.
What I have to say about this book when I recommend it:
You may read it as a fiction rather than as a non-fiction as you will be reading something like a sci-fi, a fantasy tale or even as a dystopian read in which only the women are left on the planet with women listening to women (as they're the only ones left) because these stories, the people who are telling them might get a little too unfamiliar and their stories you might find a little too unconventional. Before anything else, just listen to their stories first and try to just listen.
Why I feel we must read this book:
Even though the concept of feminism is the same everywhere (should be about equality as mentioned), I feel the cultural and outlook differences do play an important part in being able to grasp and be able to relate at a deeper level. This book is better suited for us who grow up in similar environments.
What's the first word that comes to your mind when you see "feminism"?
December 28, 2018
Honestly, I was a little disappointed with the book. I thought the language and the perspectives that were covered could have been more crisply delivered to readers. While the accounts themselves were informative and engaging, the editing was quite poor and a lot of the editors' opinions got quite muddled up with the text itself in that yes it was a book on famous self-claimed feminists in the general sense of the term, but it was certainly not an intersectional read, nor was it a particularly insightful or novel one. Having said that, we need more books like this to at least start the conversation, and I'll give the book 10/10 for purpose and effort.
April 6, 2019
• This is a Non Fiction book with stories of 15 famous personalities (all genders) who talks about feminism.
• The book is written in a way that a layman can understand by not using any fancy words which are hard to interpret. It educated me more about gender equality, the struggles and the life stories of the mentioned personalities.
• The 1st chapter is the story of Kalki Koechlin who talks about marriage and the related struggles. The stuggle to hold our own identity after marriage.
• The next one is the story of Aditi Mittal, the famous stand up comedian, who is trying to break stereotypes and how she has to face ugly comments for her being a woman in the comedy bussiness but how she continues to grow.
It's not as simple as it looks.
• The story of Deepa Malik made me cry for all the struggles and pain she has suffered and gone through and yet did not let her bad fate take control over her. She is a very brave women! I swear, I had tears rolling down my eyes!
• I felt good and hopeful to read the men's perpective and their stand for feminist in this patriarch world.
-
So like wise there are manyyy stories of such celebrities speaking for Feminism. I could mention a quote or two from this book but I would rather quote the entire book!
-
A perfect book that can be a perfect gift for value education which is the need of an hour!
• The book is written in a way that a layman can understand by not using any fancy words which are hard to interpret. It educated me more about gender equality, the struggles and the life stories of the mentioned personalities.
• The 1st chapter is the story of Kalki Koechlin who talks about marriage and the related struggles. The stuggle to hold our own identity after marriage.
• The next one is the story of Aditi Mittal, the famous stand up comedian, who is trying to break stereotypes and how she has to face ugly comments for her being a woman in the comedy bussiness but how she continues to grow.
It's not as simple as it looks.
• The story of Deepa Malik made me cry for all the struggles and pain she has suffered and gone through and yet did not let her bad fate take control over her. She is a very brave women! I swear, I had tears rolling down my eyes!
• I felt good and hopeful to read the men's perpective and their stand for feminist in this patriarch world.
-
So like wise there are manyyy stories of such celebrities speaking for Feminism. I could mention a quote or two from this book but I would rather quote the entire book!
-
A perfect book that can be a perfect gift for value education which is the need of an hour!
April 8, 2021
Honestly I had higher expectation from this book. Although it has some brilliant interviews, it gets superficial sometimes. Most of them see gender in binary . Wanted more intersectional read.
May 8, 2021
A few interesting narratives and a commendable effort, but wish it were written and edited way better (I mentally kept shaking my head at grammatical/proofing errors and poor sentence structures). Also wish it had been more intersectional and covered a wider range of people, while refraining from adding the writers' views with the narratives of those interviewed - it felt confusing and a bit unnecessary at times.
October 1, 2018
An interesting collection of interviews of people from all walks and genders. You can read it in a single setting on a lazy sunday afternoon.
Not only does it talk about how different people experienced feminism or the need for it differently, it also talks about how there is an urgent need to stop the misguided online vitriol against feminism..that feminists are male bashers.
My favourite part was the last line from Tanmay Bhat's interview.. ""for all those who ask "why can't we call it equalism or humanism instead of feminism?" Because it's okay to name a movement after the oppressed.""
Not only does it talk about how different people experienced feminism or the need for it differently, it also talks about how there is an urgent need to stop the misguided online vitriol against feminism..that feminists are male bashers.
My favourite part was the last line from Tanmay Bhat's interview.. ""for all those who ask "why can't we call it equalism or humanism instead of feminism?" Because it's okay to name a movement after the oppressed.""
May 22, 2019
“There are so many things that we use to fill up the empty #spaces. You have to #strip yourself from all this. Ask yourself that if I’m stripped of my #wealth, my #success, my #friends and my loved ones, what do I have left? Recognise what it is. That is what’s worth fighting for.” ~ @kalkikanmani #quotes in her interview for this exemplary work #feministrani by @meghna.pant and @shailichopra. .
.
I got it delivered on Tuesday and started #reading that day itself and when i perused, it was unputdownable. Each and every interviewee has expressed his/her idea of #feminism in the best way possible which is put to words in an even better way by both writers. The delicate choice of #empowering yet inoffensive words is a skill they’ve showcased so beautifully.
.
.
Such #books are nothing but a tight slap on the face of propagandists masquerading as #pseudo #feminists who #preach nothing more than “#Women above #men” whereas feminism speaks of “#Equality among #genders”. But it’s always better said than done, it’s #time for us to break the shackles of #stereotypes and societal prejudices, rise above #hate and make it a better #country for generations to come. It’s sad that after 70 years we have to fight for something which should not exist at all in the first place, the #inequality. But all it needs is a voice, your #voice.♥️💫 and well, raise it for something worth fighting for.
.
I got it delivered on Tuesday and started #reading that day itself and when i perused, it was unputdownable. Each and every interviewee has expressed his/her idea of #feminism in the best way possible which is put to words in an even better way by both writers. The delicate choice of #empowering yet inoffensive words is a skill they’ve showcased so beautifully.
.
.
Such #books are nothing but a tight slap on the face of propagandists masquerading as #pseudo #feminists who #preach nothing more than “#Women above #men” whereas feminism speaks of “#Equality among #genders”. But it’s always better said than done, it’s #time for us to break the shackles of #stereotypes and societal prejudices, rise above #hate and make it a better #country for generations to come. It’s sad that after 70 years we have to fight for something which should not exist at all in the first place, the #inequality. But all it needs is a voice, your #voice.♥️💫 and well, raise it for something worth fighting for.
April 15, 2022
Feminist Rani by Shalini Chopra and Meghna Pant
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this books. It's an epitome of how Feminism as a perception must be in instilled in our minds. 14 thought provoking conversations revolved around 14 beautiful, boisterous and strong personalities about Feminism. Taught me a lot and indeed provided me a different perception. I learned a lot from this book.
Heart touching story was that of Shree Gauri Sawanth, a Transgender activist, she says, "How does it feel for a woman who wears a burquah and gets called Terrorist, that's how it is when a transgender is called a man instead of woman"
~
Amazing conversations, every story and every conversation was beautifully crafted and written to the point. It was lovely to see people from different field coming over and sharing their viewpoints.
~
I feel,
There's not a requirement for us to stress on the word "Feminism" actually the right word is "Equalism" unfortunately we live in a patriarchal society and in order to counter the word Patriarchy the word Feminism came up.
It's a fight against Men and Women VS The Unfair system. Not Men VS Women.
~
Feminists can also get dresses up and be polite, men can cry, women can laugh harder and dress how they want to, men can also cook, women can also lift weights, men can also dance, women can also ride motorcycles.
~
We cannot be gender specific.
Feminism is not a fight for not putting women on pedestal it's a fight for equal access,voice and freedom.
~
Let's take an oath,
And stop saying things even as joke to a man when he cries, countering or consoling him by saying, "Don't cry like a girl" or whenever a woman talks loud or sleeps on sofa with cross legged saying "Don't behave like a boy"
~
We need to stop this, it begins from Household, then your Social environment finally the Ecosystem which you are part of, You change, educate others and keep spreading the word.
~
At the end of the day, it is not a Man's world. It's a world where all kinds of gender live with freedom of speech and rights.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this books. It's an epitome of how Feminism as a perception must be in instilled in our minds. 14 thought provoking conversations revolved around 14 beautiful, boisterous and strong personalities about Feminism. Taught me a lot and indeed provided me a different perception. I learned a lot from this book.
Heart touching story was that of Shree Gauri Sawanth, a Transgender activist, she says, "How does it feel for a woman who wears a burquah and gets called Terrorist, that's how it is when a transgender is called a man instead of woman"
~
Amazing conversations, every story and every conversation was beautifully crafted and written to the point. It was lovely to see people from different field coming over and sharing their viewpoints.
~
I feel,
There's not a requirement for us to stress on the word "Feminism" actually the right word is "Equalism" unfortunately we live in a patriarchal society and in order to counter the word Patriarchy the word Feminism came up.
It's a fight against Men and Women VS The Unfair system. Not Men VS Women.
~
Feminists can also get dresses up and be polite, men can cry, women can laugh harder and dress how they want to, men can also cook, women can also lift weights, men can also dance, women can also ride motorcycles.
~
We cannot be gender specific.
Feminism is not a fight for not putting women on pedestal it's a fight for equal access,voice and freedom.
~
Let's take an oath,
And stop saying things even as joke to a man when he cries, countering or consoling him by saying, "Don't cry like a girl" or whenever a woman talks loud or sleeps on sofa with cross legged saying "Don't behave like a boy"
~
We need to stop this, it begins from Household, then your Social environment finally the Ecosystem which you are part of, You change, educate others and keep spreading the word.
~
At the end of the day, it is not a Man's world. It's a world where all kinds of gender live with freedom of speech and rights.
March 7, 2022
Book : Feminist Rani
Authur : Shaili chopra and Meghna Pant
Review
🔅 Feminist Rani is a collaborative work of both Shaili chopra and Meghna Pant. They both had interviewed 14 most powerful voices respectively based on gender equality.
🔅Back then some of us have an opinion about feminism,which was a movement something against men.
🔅But in real feminism is something about creating equal access to opportunities to women just as the society does for men.Also releaving men who were under constant pressure of society to be the bearer of entire family responsibilities.
🔅 Feminism comes into light to change this patriarchial culture of society on genders.Irrespective of genders one has to be respected for who they are and what they wanted to be .. most of all to be treated as human in the society.
🔅 Feminist Rani says feminism is not against men but it's against the system,that's creating gender biases.
🔅Feminist Rani was an interesting read.To be putting the collective views of the feminists,both the authors have done a tremendous job.All the 14 different stories would inspire us to voice our demands for equality,respect and dignity more of as a person we wanted to be, breaking all the barriers.
🔅The very thing I have noticed in this book was most of them were raised to have equal opinions just like men or for women.Most of them als stood against their own families,to thrive for what they want to be.
🔅We all need to start these lessons of equality as a basic foundation to our children.So then they will have no fear to voice out their opinions and abilities.
🔅The very first book I had read on feminism was Feminist Rani and it's gave me an awesome insights about feminism.
🔸Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Authur : Shaili chopra and Meghna Pant
Review
🔅 Feminist Rani is a collaborative work of both Shaili chopra and Meghna Pant. They both had interviewed 14 most powerful voices respectively based on gender equality.
🔅Back then some of us have an opinion about feminism,which was a movement something against men.
🔅But in real feminism is something about creating equal access to opportunities to women just as the society does for men.Also releaving men who were under constant pressure of society to be the bearer of entire family responsibilities.
🔅 Feminism comes into light to change this patriarchial culture of society on genders.Irrespective of genders one has to be respected for who they are and what they wanted to be .. most of all to be treated as human in the society.
🔅 Feminist Rani says feminism is not against men but it's against the system,that's creating gender biases.
🔅Feminist Rani was an interesting read.To be putting the collective views of the feminists,both the authors have done a tremendous job.All the 14 different stories would inspire us to voice our demands for equality,respect and dignity more of as a person we wanted to be, breaking all the barriers.
🔅The very thing I have noticed in this book was most of them were raised to have equal opinions just like men or for women.Most of them als stood against their own families,to thrive for what they want to be.
🔅We all need to start these lessons of equality as a basic foundation to our children.So then they will have no fear to voice out their opinions and abilities.
🔅The very first book I had read on feminism was Feminist Rani and it's gave me an awesome insights about feminism.
🔸Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 15, 2019
I had decided to buy this book when I had attended The Feminist Conference in 2017 when co-authors Meghana Pant and Shaili Chopra talked briefly about it. This book is written on people who have fought the toughest battles and still have chosen to rise higher and higher. While reading this, I was surprised by the fact as to how there are people who, no matter what happened still chose to continue forward. The stories written in simple language will shock you, surprise you but most importantly inspire you. These are stories of different people, different battles, different purposes but all are united by feminism. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
December 28, 2019
Don’t anticipate this book to understand feminism I would say. Read this book as stories of different people and it is so lovely to know how each one of them have become what they are today with their experience. Yes I do have my person pick which is SHREE GAURI SAWANT! In fact all the chapters tell us some new angle to life and it’s so refreshing to know. I would actually thank both the writers to come across this idea and publish it. This book touched me for the struggle of them not just for the title topic!
December 18, 2018
Brilliant book!!! This is a collection of 14 interviews. Shaili Chopra and Meghan Pant discuss with a wide variety of people (actress, comedians, business people, sportswoman, and a transgender woman) feminism and many other topics related and unrelated. The outcome is a book that shows how far we have come on the amazing work of a few, how the work of one single person can make a huge difference but also that there is still a far way to go.
February 23, 2022
I am so happy that I came across this book. This book is thought-provoking, and the best thing about this book is that you get different perspectives on feminism. This book will always be very close to my heart <3333
"Even if my feminism is not your feminism, it is still feminism" is enough for you to start this book right away :)
"Even if my feminism is not your feminism, it is still feminism" is enough for you to start this book right away :)
September 17, 2025
பதினான்கு துருவங்கள்
வைராக்கிய பெண்ணியவாதிகள் –
பாராட்டி, போற்றத்தக்கவர்கள்.
பெண்ணியத்தைப் போற்ற,
பாலினம் ஒரு தடையல்ல என்று நிரூபித்தவர்கள்
சிலரும் இதில் அடங்குவர்.
பெரும் துன்பத்திலிருந்து மீண்டெழுந்த
தன்னம்பிக்கைக்காரர்களின் நேர்காணல் தொகுப்பு
‘ஃபெமினிஸ்ட் ராணி’ —
அனைவரும் படிக்க வேண்டிய
அற்புதமான பொக்கிஷப் பெட்டகம்.
பெண்ணியத்துடன்,
ஶ்ரீ
வைராக்கிய பெண்ணியவாதிகள் –
பாராட்டி, போற்றத்தக்கவர்கள்.
பெண்ணியத்தைப் போற்ற,
பாலினம் ஒரு தடையல்ல என்று நிரூபித்தவர்கள்
சிலரும் இதில் அடங்குவர்.
பெரும் துன்பத்திலிருந்து மீண்டெழுந்த
தன்னம்பிக்கைக்காரர்களின் நேர்காணல் தொகுப்பு
‘ஃபெமினிஸ்ட் ராணி’ —
அனைவரும் படிக்க வேண்டிய
அற்புதமான பொக்கிஷப் பெட்டகம்.
பெண்ணியத்துடன்,
ஶ்ரீ
January 20, 2019
3.5/5 RTC soon!!!
January 5, 2021
Opinions of some feminists residing in India. Feminists is a movement, not a cool thing to brag about.
November 14, 2019
Love the concept for this book and really wanna support desi ladies, but the interviews are pretty surface-level/flat and the writing is also quite unrefined.
February 9, 2020
Feminist Rani is a collection of interviews with path-breaking and fascinating opinion leaders--Kalki Koechlin, Tanmay Bhatt, Gul Panag, Aditi Mittal, Gauri Sawant, and many more. These are women and men who have advocated gender equality and women's rights through their work. These compelling conversations provide a perspective on the evolving concept of feminism in an age when women are taking charge and leading the way.
🍃
I really liked the story of Deepa Malik who is the first Indian Woman to win at the Paralympic Games. The hardships faced by her and the way she has evolved out of them is extremely inspirational.
🍃
I also loved Gul Panag's story. The varied sectors she has ventured into, from Beauty Pageant to Politics, from being a Solo Traveler to becoming a Pilot, everything is Simply Great!
🍃
It feels really great to know even about the perspectives of Men regarding Feminism which is such a Good Change!
🍃
Feminists, across the World and Especially in India are still seen as Women who hate Men.
Books like these will surely help in bringing out the real meaning of Feminism, the Concept of Equal Opportunities!
🍃
I would totally recommend this book to both Men and Women equally, Because it's high time we discuss this Elephant in the Room!
🍃
I really liked the story of Deepa Malik who is the first Indian Woman to win at the Paralympic Games. The hardships faced by her and the way she has evolved out of them is extremely inspirational.
🍃
I also loved Gul Panag's story. The varied sectors she has ventured into, from Beauty Pageant to Politics, from being a Solo Traveler to becoming a Pilot, everything is Simply Great!
🍃
It feels really great to know even about the perspectives of Men regarding Feminism which is such a Good Change!
🍃
Feminists, across the World and Especially in India are still seen as Women who hate Men.
Books like these will surely help in bringing out the real meaning of Feminism, the Concept of Equal Opportunities!
🍃
I would totally recommend this book to both Men and Women equally, Because it's high time we discuss this Elephant in the Room!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews