Power Women

Simple, lucid and entertaining, it focuses on the basics without getting entangled in too many details, plots and sub-plots.Bring stories of lesser-known female characters, such as Unniyarcha and Sulochona and many othersProvides a feministic perspective and serves to highlight points that are often ignored by authors and criticsPushpa Kurup is a history buff and travel enthusiast, who had a successful career in the corporate sector but tired of the rat race, she left it all to pursue her passions. She lives in Trivandrum, India.The women in India's great epics compare favourably with the men Draupadi, the princess with five husbands and a fiery temperament; Uloopi, who abducted the mighty warrior Arjuna; Satyabhama, who fought alongside Krishna to kill the demon Narakasura; Sita, who dramatically descended into the bowels of the Earth rather than return to her suspicious husband; Satyavati, whose greed set the stage for the Kurukshetra War; or Savitri, who achieved the impossible without picking up a weapon. Pushpa Kurup brings their stories and many others in this brilliant compilation of the powerful and intriguing women of our mythology. What enriches this volume further is the inclusion of a few lesser-known but equally significant women, such as Unniyarcha, the heroine of the vadakkanpaatu of Malabar; Kannagi, whose fury destroyed the prosperous Pandya kingdom of Madurai; or Sati Devi and Amba, who immolated themselves in their bid to achieve their mission. From bhikkunis and sanyasinis to wild and wayward women, from daughters, wives, mothers and grandmothers to queens, warriors and scholars, the stories of these splendid women throw up many surprises and make for a fascinating read.Power Women in Hindu Mythology, Folklore and History is a brilliant exploration of the women of our mythology-from the famous and much acclaimed Sita and Draupadi to the lesser-known Sulabha and Sushobana and many others-meant to both enlighten and entertain.