Widows and Daughters: Gender, Kinship, and Power in South Asia

by Anna Suvorova, Daniel Dynin (Translator)

This book outlines the so called 'contemporary Asian matriarchate'. In the twentieth century, six women have held the office of prime minister in South Asia. The pioneers were Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka-the world's first female prime minister-and Indira Gandhi, who headed the government of India. They were followed by Benazir Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Sheikh Hasina Wajed and Begum Khaleda Zia, who held same position in Bangladesh, and Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Sri Lankan President. Why should countries so long associated with patriarchy and the subordination of women be the focus for so many politically prominent females? The analysts attribute it simply to inheritance as each of these women was a widow or daughter of a slain male national leader. Women have tended to move into top position of power under the most dramatic circumstances-as a result of military coups, attempted murder, and assassination. This book will try to unravel the question of how
these six women have managed to take power and how they have been able to exploit to their benefit the traditions of sexuality, motherhood, and kinship in South Asia.

216 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2019

About the author

Anna A. Suvorova is a Russian Orientalist and art critic. She is bilingual in Russian and Urdu. A recognized scholar, she frequently lectures at universities all over the world.

Suvorova is the Head of the Department of Asian Literature at the Institute of Oriental Studies (Russian Academy of Sciences), Professor of Indo-Islamic culture at the Institute of Oriental and classical cultures (Russian State University for the Humanities), member of the International faculty in National College of Arts (Pakistan), fellow of Academic Advisory Board, Centre for Study of Gender and Culture (Pakistan), fellow of Royal Asiatic Society (UK).

Her areas of professional interest include: South-Asian pre-modern literature, Islam in the Indian Subcontinent, Sufism, South-Asian performing and visual arts.

For her contribution to the research of Pakistani literature and cultural heritage she has been conferred one of the highest state awards of Pakistan — Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

Reviews

[Zarish Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to the book launch of this book. It was ILF 2019. Its originally written in Russian, and translated in English. The writer is a scholar of South Asian studies.
The phenomenon of female leaders in South Asia always surprised me. Our cultural and social values are deeply patriarchal. Going against them even in 2021 is considered as somewhat of a rebellious behavior.
The writer of this book calls the advent of female leaders in this region a 'black swan moment'. A term coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (An Lebanese-American Economist). It means something rare and unexpected, which impacts the history.
One thing to keep in mind the Female leaders of South Asian unlike those of western countries were not women belonging to middle class or lower strata of the society or even common political families. All of them were either Widows or daughters of men considered as founding fathers of their respective countries. So one can assume that they got entry into higher echelons of politics through pedigree rather than merit. That does give them a certain advantage but does not mean they were in anyway free of prejudice and misogyny women face in day to day lives in our societies. In words of Benezir Bhutto.
"... I can deal with political differences, but how do you deal with it when someone says I don't like you because you are a women and you've taken a man's place?"
This book tells the story of the female leaders of South Asia, starting from Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. Who become first women leader of a state in modern world. Her husband was assassinated. There was a lot of turmoil after it. None of the political leaders held public trust. So the party choose her. She was called the weeping widow by many national newspapers. Sirimavo Bandaranaike ended up having 40 year long political career. Indira Ghandi of India, who still to the date is the prime minister who has the highest approval rating by the public even surpassing her father, who was one of the founding fathers of the nation. Benezir Bhutto, also called daughter of the East. She rose to power after imprisonment of her father by Zia-ul-Haq. She held office twice both time the assemblies dissolved for one reason or another. She was assassinated in 2007. Her time in office has been shortest compared to the other female leaders ad probably the most turbulent. Hasina Wajid Daughter of Mujib-ur-Rehman, founder of Bangladesh and Khalida Zia widow of Ziaur Rehman, president of Bangladesh killed in a coup. Bangladesh has had no other prime minister in last 30 year other than one of the two women. Bangladesh's political scenario is a phenomenon unto it self.
All these women had one thing in common. They came into power through luck rather than choice, they were given offices in time of extreme turmoil and uncertainty. In times men around them related to them or the ones that may have been heir apparent were killed, left the country, or could not . So their coming into power was circumstantial and the last resort.
This book is short, informative and very well written. It does justice to the topic is trying to cover. I would definitely recommend it

[Muhammad Fachreza Rahmadian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read for people interested in history, gender, and politics of South Asia. This book could use some update with the ousting of Sheikh Hasina from power because when this book was written in 2019, she was still the prime minister of Bangladesh.

Another new figure in South Asia politics that should be not dismissed is Maryam Sharif, the daughter of former Prime Minister of Nawaz Sharif, who is currently holding the position of chief minister of Punjab since early 2024.

[Anam Azam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful and informative, though author put women in power as some divine thing who can’t do any wrong. Other than that the book was on point and articulate