Author: Malvika Singh
Translator(s)/ Edito: Malvika Singh
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 215
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0143100823
Description
Innumerable restrictions have been imposed on the Indian woman through the ages, along with lofty expectations of physical and moral perfection. The modern Indian woman has exalted ideals to aspire to as well, especially with the increased importance that is now placed on personal success. How does an ordinary woman cope?
Freeing the Spirit celebrates some of the most remarkable women of Modern India who, defying all odds, transcended the roles carved out for them to reach unimaginable degrees of accomplishment. Each story is one of individual triumph in the face of seemingly impossible obstacles; of strength, hope and tenacity.
Bhawana Somaaya tells Lata Mangeshkar's story of phenomenal success and artistic mastery borne out of poverty and hardship. Sunil Khilnani writes about Indira Gandhi's paradoxical transformation from the shy ‘goongi gudia' into one of the most admired women in the world. Tarun Tejpal writes about the astonishing rise of Indira's daughter-in-law, Sonia, the pretty Italian girl who married into India's first family and went on to become the most powerful politician in the country.
This anthology also profiles personalities like Mother Teresa, Mahasveta Devi, Nargis, Begum Akhtar, Amrita Sher-Gil, Rukmini Devi Arundale, J. Jayalalithaa, Mayawati, Lakshmi Sehgal, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Pupul Jayakar, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Homai Vyarawalla. Their stories are both inspirational and enlightening. Each piece is unique and intimate, and follows the personal journeys of these extraordinary women alongside their very public successes.
Contents
HAI AKHTARI!
S. Kalidas on Begum Akhtar
WHY NARGIS MATTERS
T.J.S. George on Nargis
A LIFE IN SERVICE
Subhashini Ali Sahgal on Lakshmi Sahgal
BREAKING THE STATUS QUO
Shikha Trivedy on Mayawati
REVIVAL AND RESTORATION
Jaya Jyitly on Kamaladevi VGhattopadhyay
AMMA: THE ENIGMA
Sushila Ravindranath on
J. Jayalalithaa
THE TAPESTRY OF HER LIFE
Malvika Sing on Pupul Jayakar
UPPING THE ANTE
Naazneen Karmali on Kiran Mazumdar
Shaw
THE MIRACLE MOTHER
Reeta Devi on Mother Teresa
A RICH CANVAS
Nitin Bhayana on Amrita Sher-Gil
CONQUERING THE SCALE
Bhawana Somaaya on Lata Mangeshkar
ARCHIVING THE NATION
Sabeena Gadihoke on Homai Vyarawalla
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
Leela Samson on Rukmini Devi Arundale
THE ADIVASI MAHASVETA
Ganesh N. Devy on Mahasveta Devi
THE ASCENT OF THE
ORDINARY
Tarun J. Tejpal on Sonia Gandhi
LOOKING FOR IINDRA
GANDHI
Sunil Khilnanion Indira Gandhi
NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS