Rising: 30 Women Who Changed India

by Kiran Manral

With stories of 30 amazing contemporary Indian women, this book looks at what shaped them, the challenges they faced, the influences they had, the choices they made and how they negotiated around or broke the boundaries that sought to confine them, either through society or circumstance. From diverse backgrounds, different generations, they have risen through sheer grit, determination, bolstered with passion, and are, today, names to look up to, to hold out as examples to the next generation of young women and girls, giving them courage to reach out to their dreams. From politics to sport, from the creative and performing arts to cinema and television, from business leaders to scientists, legal luminaries and more, this book features the stories of these much celebrated, fabulous women: Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, Fathima Beevi, Mahasweta Devi, Amrita Sher-Gil, Amrita Pritam, Sonal Mansingh, Lata Mangeshkar, Anita Desai, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Harita Kaur Deol, Madhuri Dixit, Bachendri Pal, Rekha, Chhavi Rajawat, Karnam Malleswari, Shailaja Teacher, Hima Das, Naina Lal Kidwai, Shakuntala Devi, P.T. Usha, P.V. Sindhu, Ekta Kapoor, Kiran Bedi, Mary Kom, Menaka Guruswamy, Tessy Thomas, Aparna Sen, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Gayatri Devi, among others.

Genres: Nonfiction

296 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2022

About the author

After quitting her full-time journalist’s job when her son was born, Kiran became a mommy blogger, on the internet, with a remarkably original voice. She was a journalist at The Asian Age, The Times of India, features editor Cosmopolitan, India Cultural Lead and Trendspotter at Gartner Iconoculture, Senior Consultant at Vector Insights and Ideas Editor, SheThePeople.TV. Kiran is currently a celebrated Author and an independent research and media consultant.
She was shortlisted for the Femina Women Awards for Literary Contribution in 2017. The Indian Council of UN Relations (ICUNR) with the Ministry of Women and Children, Govt of India, awarded her the International Women’s Day Award 2018 for excellence in the field of writing. In 2021 she was awarded the Womennovator 1000 Women of Asia award. In 2022, she was named amongst the 75 Iconic Indian women in STEAM by Red Dot Foundation and Beyond Black, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, and British High Commission, New Delhi.
Her novella, Saving Maya, was long-listed for the 2018 Saboteur Award, supported by the Arts Council of England in the UK. The Kitty Party Murder was shortlisted for the Popular Choice award at the 2021 JK Papers TOI AutHER awards and has been optioned for a series.
Her other books include The Reluctant Detective, Once Upon A Crush, All Aboard, Karmic Kids-The Story of Parenting Nobody Told You, A Boy’s Guide to Growing Up, True Love Stories, 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting, Raising Kids with Hope and Wonder in Times of a Pandemic and Climate Change, More Things in Heaven and Earth, Rising 30 Women Who Changed India, Rising 2.0: 20 More Women Who Changed India, All Those Who Wander and The Moon in the Lining of her Skin.
She also has published short stories in various magazines, in acclaimed anthologies like Have A Safe Journey, Boo, The Best Asian Speculative Fiction 2018, Grandpa’s Tales, Magical Women, City of Screams, The Hachette Book of Indian Detective Fiction and Hell Hath No Fury.
Her nonfiction book, Karmic Kids: The Story of Parenting Nobody Told You, was listed amongst the top five books on parenting by Indian authors in 2015 by the Sunday Guardian.
The Face at the Window, released in 2016, was listed amongst the top 30 books written by women authors in 2016 by The Ladies Finger, as among the must read books by contemporary women authors by BuzzingBubs and received much critical acclaim. The Times of India stated that “Manral may have very well pioneered the "Himalayan Gothic" genre” with this book. Her novella, Saving Maya, was long listed for the 2018 Saboteur Awards, UK, supported by the Arts Council England, The Kitty Party Murder was shortlisted for the AutHER Awards 2020 Popular Choice Awards. The Face at the Window was long listed at Jio MAMI Word to Screen and showcased at the Singapore International Film Festival. Monster Complex listed her in their global list titled "Urban Fantasy Showcase: 100 Authors To Know and Their Works." Desi Blitz listed her amongst the top seven horror writers from India. Her book, The Face at the Window, was listed in HoneyKids Asia's list of top picks of Asian Horror books alongside books like Han Kang's The Vegetarian, and The Ring. Bookstr.com listed her amongst "6 Fascinating Asian and Pacific Islander Horror Authors."

Reviews

[Mugdha Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rising is a collection of Inspirational stories of 30 great women. These women are from different backgrounds but there’s one similarity between them - they all have made India proud.

From Lata Mangeshkar to Mahadevi Verma, from P.V Sidhu to Ekta Kapoor, you’ll get to read some amazing snippets from their lives and how they made big for themselves.

I absolutely enjoyed reading the book. I’m actually in awe of each and every women present in the book. Their struggles made me realise how privileged we all are. Definitely recommended.

[Abhilash Ruhela · Rating 5 out of 5]

7th Book of 2022

I have known Kiran Manral as a celebrated author since a long time but I couldn’t get a chance to read any of her work. Finally, in the month of March 2022, on the occasion of Women’s Day, her latest book released named “Rising: 30 Women Who Changed India” which speaks about 30 different women who changed the mindset, stereotypes and gave a new definition on what an Indian women or girl can do and achieve. I generally don’t like reading a book for a long time as I want to move to the next as soon as possible but here, I read story of one woman per day on an average and dedicated the whole month of March to this book which speaks about these inspiring personalities.

Kiran Manral has very perfectly chosen the women who comes from all walks of life such as entertainment, movies, sports, entrepreneurship, government job, judiciary system, educational, science, rural panchayat etc. Another great attempt is in considering such personalities whom we haven’t heard about before or who aren’t that popular even after they achieved something incredible through their legacy for the Indian girls. Every personality has been dedicated a chapter of around 5-10 pages and its like a small summary of their life just to ensure that you are introduced and know about them here onwards. I was quite ashamed of myself for not even knowing names of many of them even though they have initiated something not many could dare even after 75 years of independence today.

The book speaks about how women are generally stereotyped and they have to break multiple shackles to achieve something that men can do without any question towards them. Author manages to let us know that the gender equality that we talk about today and which I believe we have almost achieved in many ways have been possible due to few of such women who didn’t think only about themselves but about the whole system as well as other females around them. They didn’t let their dreams and aspirations die just because no other women had attempted it before them or the society considered it wrong for them. They achieved the unbelievable by managing themselves even when they had to go against family, spouse, society or system at times. There are many ladies who have gone through divorces in these stories and you can understand the challenge they had to endure during those times when it would have been such a setback to manage everything from family to work alone.

The book starts with the politicians such as Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit and also discusses about multiple film personalities such as Lata Mangeshkar, M. S. Subbulakshmi, Madhuri Dikshit, Rekha, Ekta Kapoor, Aparna Sen etc later in the chapters. Author also gives enough prominence to Sport personalities where women from different sports are discussed such as Karnam Malleshwari, Hima Das, P. T. Usha, P. V. Sindhu, Mary Kom etc. I personally loved reading about them as I could relate with Sports very easily and many of their achievements happened in my notice so it was like getting the whole thing replayed again in my mind.

Then Kiran also gets into the characters who have accomplished the zenith in completely special fields such as knowing about Tessy Thomas being the Missile Woman of India made me feel ashamed that I didn’t know that we even have someone who has achieved this title. We only know about APJ Abdul Kalam as Missile Man but we also have a woman who have achieved the same. I am pretty sure that 99% of Indians don’t know about her. The book speaks about entrepreneur, Kiran Mazumdar – Shaw, who is an inspiration for so many women. I liked reading about how she managed to survive against all ups and downs. We get to know about Shakuntala Devi and her struggles after she got famous for her fast-processing brain which could calculate tough mathematical computations within seconds. I felt personal happiness in reading about Menaka Guruswamy who helped the whole LGBTQ community by fighting for them in court and removing the long-awaited section 377 imposed on them. She further says that now she wants to legalize same-sex marriage in India on which she is working day-and-night. Such people are meant to be celebrated in our country. There are many other personalities who are discussed in this book – not all of them can be discussed in this short review.

Now talking about the drawbacks – I must say that few women are not discussed in terms of their struggles but author could only manage to tell us about the way their career progressed. An example – the chapter on Madhuri Dikshit and P. T. Usha manages to talk only about what happened when in their career rather than what it took for them to do it. Secondly, I believe few personalities are added just for managing to get the book picked by the reader such as Madhuri Dikshit and Rekha. I don’t think they are among the list of women who changed India in any way. There are many better than them who could have been covered. Thirdly, you won’t find pictures of any woman listed in the book, not even in Black and White. It would have been great if Kiran could have managed to have their pictures so we could have known them little better.

Overall, this book deserves its place in your bookshelf. It is really exciting to know about how few women have worked upon to take India to the level it is today. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 – for its intention and versatility.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA

[Muskan | The Quirky Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

We hear great names in our everyday life - in newspapers, on tv shows, on social media and on various other platforms. While we see these people, rather women in this context, we see their achievements and current positions. But they are so much more than that! They have a back story, they have their histories and they have had their struggles - which we don't bother with. This book beats exactly that. The author has presented small biographical accounts of 30 women from India who achieved great heights and overcame every obstacle that dare stumble them on their path.

Within the mentioned names, we find variety. There are women who are in the prime of their time, women who are budding starts and women who have left us with a carved path. Among these stories we draw inspiration and the ruthlessness one must provide towards achieving goals.

The author has done a fantastic job in the way she has brought these women to our attention. By no means are the mentioned stories an exhaustive account, rather they are little snippets that make the reader want to dive deeper into their stories.

A truly inspiring read I couldn't get enough of.

[Saumya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick read, with short chapters, penned down wonderfully about different women from different walks of life.



This book is an impeccable story about 30 women who changed the face of India, I picked up this book purely because of the blurb and the title & I was not disappointed. This book is well researched as well as tremendously well-written book. What I like about this book is that Kiran has not restricted herself to a single field, she has picked different women from different areas of society, be it politics or the Bollywood industry, education or panchayat Few Biography like that of Sheila Dixit, Chhavi Rajawat and Madhuri Dixit really inspired me. All these women have left great legacies and have inspired millions of women including me.

[Aishwariya Laxmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rising – 30 women who changed India - by Kiran Manral and published by Rupa covers the inspiring journeys of 30 Indian women from various fields who blazed a trail for others to follow. Manral has allocated a chapter for each achiever, and she has meticulously listed all her references from secondary research at the end of each chapter. A few of the achievers have been interviewed as well.

The women featured include Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, M. Fathima Beevi, Mahasweta Devi, Amrita Sher-Gil, Amrita Pritam, Sonal Mansingh, Lata Mangeshkar, Anita Desai, M.S.Subbulakshmi, Harita Kaur Deol, Madhuri Dixit, Bachendri Pal, Rekha, Chhavi Rajawat, Karnam Malleswari, Shailaja Teacher, Hima Das, Naina Lal Kidwai, Shakuntala Devi, P.T.Usha, P.V.Sindhu, Ekta Kapoor, Kiran Bedi, Mary Kom, Menaka Guruswamy, Tessy Thomas, Aparna Sen, Kiran-Mazumdar Shaw and Maharani Gayatri Devi.

I recommend this book to young women who aspire to follow the pathbreaking women before them who have earned a place in India’s history in the fields of politics, sports, acting, art, writing, painting etc.

I received a review copy through the Blogchatter Book Review Program. The complete review is on my website

[Nilofar Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"One must remember her by these words in which she encapsulates the agony of women and tribals, that of being doubly condemned. She wrote, 'I am going to write this, I am a witch, I am going to be killed.'" -referring to Mahashweta Devi
.
Gender inequality has always been a parasite in our country. Having all the requisite talents and determination for achieving big, women were always underestimated and mostly misunderstood. Historically speaking, those who dared to break the barriers had faced the wrath of the so-called traditional society. However, there were also such women who had been supported by their peers and families. And their constant support had been their biggest motivation.
This book by Kiran Manral is an effort to bring these internationally recognized women warriors to the audience. Success can be admired by many but the consistency, several failed attempts or the struggles remain hidden or witnessed by only few. With this book, we can atleast get the glimpses of these 30 women's lives and how they changed the nation. These great personalities excelled in almost every fields including politics, sports, academic, entertainment and many other.
With an excellent narrative skill accompanied by insightful content, this is definitely a must read book for all. The chapters were kept short (~6-7 pages) and precise with all the necessary references attached with it. The pace was exceptionally good.
Some of these personalities mentioned in the book were-
Sushma Swaraj, Mary Kom, Amrita Sher-Gil, Rekha, Anita Desai, Lata Mangeshkar, and the list continues.
While going through the Index, I was amazed with the addition of their names. I was expecting Kalpana Chawla's, but the book could fit only 30. Among them, Amrita Pritam's story seemed more fascinating. Her story made me realize that Love knows no bounds! It can continue to bloom through adversities. I'm definitely looking forward to read more of them.

[Neelanjali । booksmakemewhole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an inspirational journey through the lives of 30 Indian women who stood strong against all odds and made a mark of their own. These women were all born under ordinary circumstances, but their actions that contributed to the greater good, were what made them truly extraordinary.

These human beacons of hope belong to various fields from politics to sports, from performing arts to telivision, from business leaders to scientists and many more. This book highlights their stories and how they turned out to be the shining examples for every Indian girl to fearlessly pursue her dreams.

These stories are about women we've all heard of and looked upto at some point in our lives. The thirty stories featured here are of these amazing women; namely Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, Fathima Beevi, Mahashweta Devi, Amrita Sher-Gil, Amrita Pritam, Sonal Mansingh, Lata Mangeshkar, Anita Desai and many more!

This book is a must-read for all the young women of India as it'll guide and support them at various stages on their path to success. It is quite well-researched and well-structured. Reading it can actually change your life!

[Koral Dasgupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiran Manral's RISING documents 30 women changemakers from sports, politics, business, administration, entertainment, art and science. The choice of women from among many others are interesting and inspiring. Not only have these women made the sun shine brighter for themselves but have made the path smoother for others by breaking many persisting stereotypes. Reading those journeys made the book very special and makes the reader want to be there, take the legacy ahead in whatsoever big or small capacity.
The author is heartwarmingly invested in the cause of women, where she creates her own benchmarks and leaves the milestone behind with her next rendition. Ten years later if this book has a sequel, which certainly will even if it doesn't come by the same name or from the same publisher, I believe Kiran Manral will find a proud chapter and I will cheer that for my dear friend and senior.

[Sameer Gudhate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you remember the first time a woman’s story made you sit up, smile, and silently whisper, “I want to be like her”? Maybe it was Indira Gandhi on the news, or Mary Kom on the podium, or your mother silently winning life’s daily battles. RISING: 30 Women Who Changed India by Kiran Manral is a celebration of those kinds of stories — the kind that don’t just inspire, but shift something inside you.

Kiran Manral, a name I’ve followed since her witty fiction debut The Reluctant Detective, steps into powerful nonfiction terrain here — and how beautifully she does it. With this book, she doesn’t merely tell us about 30 Indian women who’ve made a difference; she makes us feel why and how they matter.

RISING is a collection of mini-biographies — a literary bouquet of stories — each focusing on a woman who broke stereotypes, defied odds, and chose to rise rather than conform. From iconic names like Lata Mangeshkar and Kiran Bedi to lesser-talked-about changemakers like Chhavi Rajawat and Harita Kaur Deol, the book spans multiple domains: politics, arts, science, sports, literature, and even rural governance.

This isn't just about listing accomplishments — it's about exploring the “how” behind the “what.” How did these women push back against societal expectations? What personal tragedies, inner resolve, or accidental opportunities led them to greatness?

Kiran’s writing is both graceful and grounded. Her tone is warm, informative, and never preachy. She doesn’t force drama into the narrative — she lets the women’s lives speak for themselves. What struck me was her ability to balance respect with relatability. She neither puts these women on unreachable pedestals nor simplifies their stories. Instead, she brings them into our living rooms, letting us listen like old friends.

Though this is nonfiction, the women feel like characters you can deeply relate to. Sheila Dikshit’s quiet authority, Amrita Pritam’s poetic passion, Bachendri Pal’s literal and metaphorical climb — all these portraits come alive with nuance. Each chapter introduces not just a woman, but an idea: perseverance, rebellion, reinvention, service, or artistry.

One particularly beautiful moment? Amrita Pritam’s quote upon Sahir Ludhianvi’s death — “Aaj mera Khuda mar gaya.” That sentence stayed with me. It’s raw, poetic, and profound — and speaks volumes about love, loss, and language.

The structure is straightforward — 30 chapters, 30 lives. But this simplicity is the book’s strength. It allows readers to dip in and out, savour one story at a time, or binge through them all in one inspiring weekend. There’s no forced chronology, just stories that are tied together by a common thread: courage.

If RISING has a heartbeat, it’s the theme of resilience. Whether it's Mahasweta Devi’s fierce activism, P.V. Sindhu’s relentless training, or Chhavi Rajawat’s brave step into village politics, these stories are all about rising — above limitations, expectations, and sometimes even one’s own fears.

There’s also a strong undertone of choice — choosing purpose over comfort, self-expression over silence, and service over self-interest.

Several moments moved me deeply — not because they were dramatic, but because they were real. Bachendri Pal’s journey to Everest, for example, felt like a metaphor for every woman trying to reach the peak of her potential while carrying the burden of expectations on her back. I finished her chapter with goosebumps.

What makes this book special is its accessibility. It doesn’t demand prior knowledge or academic interest. It’s relatable. It's human. And for young readers especially, it’s a brilliant introduction to women in Indian history and contemporary society who dared to dream differently.

If I had to point out a flaw, it would be this — the concept isn’t entirely novel. We've seen books about inspiring Indian women before. But where RISING wins is in how it makes you feel. It’s not just a catalogue of achievements; it’s a tribute, an ode, a reminder.

I found myself nodding, smiling, pausing, and highlighting lines as I read. Some stories were new to me, others familiar — but each left a mark. I especially loved reading about Amrita Pritam, someone whose poetry has always touched my soul. This book deepened that connection.

As someone who loves nonfiction but craves emotional depth, RISING felt like the perfect blend.

In a world that often shouts down women or rewrites their stories, RISING quietly but powerfully restores their voices. It made me reflect, remember, and feel proud — not just of these women, but of the potential that lies in all of us.

Highly recommended for anyone who needs a reminder that change begins with courage — and sometimes, all it takes is one woman choosing to rise.

[Kajal Kapur · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rising: 30 Women Who Changed India” was released on the occasion of Women’s Day in March 2022, when I got a chance to meet with the author and engage with her. This book focuses on 30 women who have changed the mindset and broke stereotypes, giving a new definition of what an Indian woman or girl can do and achieve. Now that the author has announced a second book in the series, I picked this up again, for the purpose of reviewing it.

Kiran Manral has chosen women from diverse backgrounds, including entertainment, movies, sports, entrepreneurship, government jobs, judiciary, education, science, and rural panchayats. She has also included lesser-known personalities who have left a lasting impact on Indian women. Each personality is dedicated a chapter of 5-10 pages, providing a brief summary of their life.

The book highlights how women are often stereotyped and face numerous challenges in achieving their dreams. It showcases the achievements of these inspiring women who did not let the constraints of society or family stop them from pursuing their aspirations. Many of these women had to go against their spouses, families, and even society to achieve their goals, and some even faced divorces.

The book starts with politicians such as Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit and then moves on to film personalities like Lata Mangeshkar, M. S. Subbulakshmi, Madhuri Dikshit, Rekha, Ekta Kapoor, and Aparna Sen. It also showcases the achievements of women in sports, including Karnam Malleshwari, Hima Das, P. T. Usha, P. V. Sindhu, and Mary Kom. The book also delves into the achievements of women in special fields, such as the Missile Woman of India, Tessy Thomas, and the entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

The book also highlights the struggles of Shakuntala Devi, who became famous for her quick mathematical calculations, and Menaka Guruswamy, who fought for the rights of the LGBTQ community in court. There are many other inspiring personalities included in the book that may not have had such an impactful journey as the ones mentioned before but they do manage to inspire, nonetheless.

“Rising: 30 Women Who Changed India” is a must-read for anyone who wants to know about the inspiring women who have helped shape India into what it is today. it is an exciting book that deserves a place on your bookshelf.

[Md Akhlaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

RISING: 30 WOMEN WHO CHANGED INDIA by @kiranmanral

@rupa_publications

You want to stand up and cheer. It's as if everything you are taught to believe, everything you feel in your heart, is true. Their accomplishments are an inspiration. Their accomplishments changed and continue to alter conventional thought one woman at a time; bringing hope to other women then and now.

Gender disparity still exists in India. Being born as a woman in Indian society, one has to face gender discrimination at multiple levels. Every woman has a story of struggles.

They dared to be different fueled by their knowledge and faith in themselves. Rising: 30 Young Women Who Changed India written by Kiran Marnal collection of the biographies of 30 Indian women who have shattered all other women and are an inspiration to other women to claim their space. These women are unique and this book does touch on some names like Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, Fathima Beevi, Mahasweta Devi, Amrita Sher-Gil, Amrita Pritam, Sonal Mansingh, Lata Mangeshkar, Anita Desai, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Harita Kaur Deol, Madhuri Dixit, Bachendri Pal, Rekha, Chhavi Rajawat, Karnam Malleswari, Shailaja Teacher, Hima Das, Naina Lal Kidwai, Shakuntala Devi, P.T. Usha, P.V. Sindhu, Ekta Kapoor, Kiran Bedi, Mary Kom, Menaka Guruswamy, Tessy Thomas, Aparna Sen, Kiran Mazumdar-Shawyatri Devi, among others.

I loved this one overall! Some of the women were completely new to me.

#rising30womenwhochangedindia #womenwhochangedhistory #womenwhochangedindia #readwithak #kiranmanral #womenempowerment #biographies

[Shruti k · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Men are superior than women' we always have listened this. Ever thought why? Why can't women do what men can? Our society is biased towards men. It is considered that men are the one who leads the family,They are the one who earns, who takes decisions while women have to just handle house and kids. The situation is still there in many place where roles were mainly based on gender. Its high time,we change our mind set and give respect to women what they deserve. There are many women out there who are breaking all the norms and proving themselves successful.

In this book, author has shared stories of 30 women from different field like politics, sports, Bollywood,dance, social work , banking and literature. The author talks about their success, how they achieved it, their challenges ,the tough choices they made etc. The book also talks about how these women had to break boundaries to achieve the success. There are many personal aspects about their life which we don't know, but after reading this you will know more and this will increase your respect towards them.

Author has wonderfully shared that how without any support and background and only with their determination and hardwork,they redefined the success and set the high bar for future generations.

My favourites are sushma swaraj, shakuntala devi and Marry Kom. At the end of the chapter, author has shared notes in which she has given article links for our reference.

Overall an inspiring read.

[readingfatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leadership comes in different forms. It sometimes comes cloaked in a distinctive blue Kanjeevaram saree, with a strand of fragrant flowers securely pinned around a bun-unassuming and gentle.
-Kiran Manral

'Rising: 30 Women Who Changed India' is an enthralling biographic narrative of profound women of the Indian soil who broke the glass ceiling with sheer talent and courage, and have received praise and honor not only in India but around the world. The author has carefully selected these 30 heroines belonging to diverse fields like entrepreneur, movies, writing, judiciary, politics, defense, healthcare and sports.

Among the 30 who the book talks about I was particularly fascinated to read (more) about M. Fathima Beevi (the first woman judge of a Supreme Court in India as well as Asia), Shailaja Teacher (the proactive health minister of Kerala who helped slay Nipah Virus and COVID 19), Naina Lal Kidwai (she has so many 'first' to her name when it comes to banking sector), Tessy Thomas ( The Missile Woman Of India) and Kiran Mazumdar (the accidental entrepreneur who's broke barriers left and right).

One also gets to read about the life of personalities like Mary Kom. Lata Mangeshkar, Madhuri Dixit, Sushma Swaraj and others. The language of the book is lucid and elegant. A beautiful book to read and cherish.
#readingfatima

[Ninu Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an interesting, riveting read. I liked the fact that Kiran Manral chose to select a wide array of professional fields to include in the list of 30 women who changed India. The formidable stories of their trials and tribulation to the ultimate achievement make for an inspirational read. I was really thrilled to read about some of my favourite personalities from the contemporary arena and some from the earlier times who are etched in my mind. Interestingly, there are personalities who aren’t brought to much limelight by the pop culture, so I was glad to have read about them too.
Do pick up the book for an easy weekend read or for a staggered one over a month with one chapter a day. The book also makes for an amazing present for young adults who would feel inspired by the path-breaking professional and personal choices made by the women in this book.

[Enakshi J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rising is a collection of anecdotal evidence that has been cherry-picked from the lives of some of the most sought-after women who have shaped the world. Each story talks about the struggle that played cupid in uniting the titular person with their hobby/passion. As the author mentions, it would have been extremely difficult to select the relevant information and fit it on the designated pages yet the outcome is so inspiring. Whether it is about Mary Kom, Shakuntala Devi, Madhuri Dixit or Maharani Gayatri Devi and Harita Kaur Deol, this book takes you through some of the most inspiring stories that aim at instilling the confidence to dream and to pursue what you like doing.

Read the complete review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...

[Sitharaam Jayakumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book comprises of the biographies of 30 women who are luminaries of India. After reading this book one gets an excellent insight into what women have to go through in our country to shine in their chosen fields. From the word go it is a challenge. Very often family support is almost absent. Sometimes there is gender discrimination. This comes into play especially when women try to enter a field where they are not traditionally accepted. All these facts are brought out very well in the 30 biographies the author has written in the book. The author has chosen the women she has written about with care. She has also tried to represent different parts of the country fairly. I really enjoyed the book.

[Krati Garg · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title suggests, 'Rising: 30 Women Who Changed India' is a collection of stories of 30 Indian women from all walks of life who have not only taken the patriarchal hit and overcome the shackles but have also become an inspiration for the generations to come. It is a salute to their lives, their trials, their struggles and their achievements. While some women mentioned in this book are path-breakers, others are household names, and some are super-achievers who have left behind a golden legacy for us.

Every story is replete with takeaways and has a lesson to learn. Once you finish the book, all you think of is "If she can do it, so can I", which very well serves the purpose of this book. A must-read book for everyone and especially for the young girls.

[Debabrata Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

👉𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊:-
📚ⓉⒾⓉⓁⒺ:- Rising
🖋️ⒶⓊⓉⒽⓄⓇ:-
🗞️ⓅⓊⒷⓁⒾⓈⒽⒺⓇ:- press
🔤ⓁⒶⓃⒼⓊⒶⒼⒺ:- English
📖ⒻⓄⓇⓂⒶⓉ:- Paperback
👉𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒:-
This book is a compilation of 30 women life stories who gave enormous efforts in their respective fields to change India & give a new recognization.
.
Book starts with
-> Sushma Swaraj the former external minister of India
Then second one is about
-> Sheila Dikshit who is the former chief minister of Delhi
-> This one is about M. Fathima Beevi who is the former judge of Supreme court of India.
-> Mahesweta Devi the renowned writer
-> Amrita Sher-Gil Indian painter who had the magic in her hands to express herself
-> Amrita Pritam who is an Indian Novelist
-> Sonal Mansingh a Odissi & Bharatnatyam dancer
-> Lata Mangeshkar the nightingale of India
-> M.S. Subbulakshmi whose veena has the power of mesmerizing everyone
-> Harita Kaur Deol who is a pilot
-> Madhuri Dixit the dancing diva of bollywood
-> Bachendri Pal the female mountaineer
-> Rekha Who is considered as the expression queen & her eyes speak more than her words.
-> Chhavi Rajawat who is a sarpanch of her village without associating with any political party
-> Karnam Malleswari the weight lifter who became first femal Olympic medal winner for India
.
Not only these but there are more 14 such inspirational stories the book have.
.
To know more about these stories grab the book & give it a try.
👉𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 :-
🙂 Cover of the book is simple nicely coloured.
🙂 Writing style of the book is just osm. You can easily connects with each of the stories as they are true real & completely unfiltered.
🙂 Language used in the book is simple & easily understandable.
🙂 The diversification of characters like starting from politics to sports from dance to singer from Bollywood to village sarpanch author just makes the book a must read to add some positivity in every one's life.
🙂 With the help of the book I am able to know about many unknown persons who did remarkable jobs in their lives. Indeed this book turned out to be an informative one for me. Otherwise I never search or keen to know more about those personalities
𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑:-🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Rinee✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book beautifully captures the journey of 30 strong and ambitious Indian women who not only changed their lives but also become inspiration for many in the country.

If you are looking to get motivated in business, sports, entertainment, science, politics, art, the author has picked one from segment and hasn’t fallen short to depict the beauty of a journey.

While each of the 30 stories has it’s own learnings to motivate you but they all shared a common factor which was self determination.

There will be things to bring you down, people to criticise, bad phases, things falling off the plan but one thing that will always keep you going is self believe.

These 30 incredible gems of India have inspired many through years but reading about them together through this book gave an although different zeal, the zeal to get up and make a change.

Women are strong in more ways than we anticipate.

[Pavireads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an inspiring story of 30 Indian women from various areas who created a way for others to follow. Manral has a chapter for each achiever, and at the end of each chapter, she has methodically recorded all of her secondary research references. A couple of the high performers were also interviewed.

The author has done an outstanding job in bringing these women to our attention. Highly recommended to young women who aspire to succeed and break the barriers.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expect an account of 30 women who made it big amidst all struggles and challenges.
Expect the inspiring stories of women from different fields of profession and walks of life.
Expect the stories of women who belong to different generations but still are relevant today!

[Inderpreet Uppal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational yet grounding, Rising 30 let's the reader into the lives of 30 stellar women.
It gives a peek into the struggles and success of women who defied the odds, norms to taste success.
A must read for youngsters to understand that hardwork and drive will get results.

[Mintin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a great book to delve into the unknown, underrated, and undying stories of various women spanning across histories, cultures, stages, and lives.

[Pretty Little Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

The women in this collection too, come from various fields of work, and action as well as varying socio-cultural, and economic backgrounds. They are pathbreakers, shatterers of glass ceilings and are all warriors in their own rights. Manral’s curation has been on point, inclusive of politicians, writers, singers, painters, actors, sportswomen, mathematicians, producers etc.

A reason why I think this book perhaps be a bit more accessible is that it is more recent in temporal history. As such, the struggles faced by these women are in some ways, more relatable to us, than the stories of women who were of a time when even education was not easily accessible to all.

From the academic point of view as well, this book was very well researched and as a person who is currently working on their dissertation, I really was impressed by the meticulous list of sources by Manral. What made the reading interesting was that Manral’s biographies of these women were related in what was essentially a story-telling manner. It was not dry and matter of fact, of which I am very grateful, considering I do not particularly enjoy such types of info-dumpy works. I definitely recommend you pick it up!

Full review available here.