Synopsis
What do a doctor, model, war-zone medic, entrepreneur, activist, YouTuber, shopkeeper, teacher, martial artist, wine-maker, police inspector and nuclear scientist have in common? They’re all badass, rule-breaking grandmas!
Contemporary Indian women are smashing the patriarchy every day. Many of them are the first generation in their families to invest in their education, move cities for work, marry on their own terms and continue to build a career after having kids. But all around us are the women who sowed the seeds for this change generations ago. Some did so quietly while others were outright revolutionaries.
Inspired by her own nani who broke barriers, Jasreen Mayal Khanna set out to find more such Indian grandmas. She discovered women who pushed boundaries from their youth all the way into old age – they’ve dodged bombs and bullets, were among India’s first scientists and IPS officers, faced down threats and garnered huge fan followings online. Based on four years of research and in-person interviews from all across India, Jasreen draws intimate and moving portraits of a nani, dadi, aaji, ammoomma, thakurma, abi, abok and baa who refused to be put in a box.
These twelve women are among the many who, in the face of entrenched patriarchy, laid the seeds for future generations to live their lives on their own terms.
Details
Reviews
“‘How often do we reduce our grandmothers’ extraordinary lives to nostalgic anecdotes and age-old nuskhas? Bullet Nani shatters those stereotypes. Through vivid and compelling portraits, Jasreen Mayal Khanna introduces us to feisty, resilient women whose courage, grit, and determination broke barriers and expanded possibilities for future generations. This is a celebration of the trailblazers who quietly – and sometimes boldly – made it possible for us to chart our own destinies.’ – Shabana Azmi, actor and activist
‘After reading Bullet Nani, I felt as though I had been introduced to a secret sisterhood. The book unveils women who were pioneers, rebels, professionals and adventurers long before they became someone’s Nani or Dadi. They are wonderfully human - flawed, funny, determined, and deeply inspiring. Bullet Nani is a gentle reminder that many of the freedoms women enjoy today were earned by those who dared to question the rules of their time.’ – Zeenat Aman, actor
‘These remarkable grandmothers prove that true trailblazers don't just break barriers - they create new paths for others to follow. Their stories are moving, empowering and a beautiful reminder of the strength that resides within ordinary women who choose to do extraordinary things.’ – Sonali Bendre Behl, actor, author and founder of Sonali's Book Club
‘Loved the book! Women who took agency for their lives, lived it the way they wanted, with no great fanfare and trumpeting of feminism but through sheer example! Inspiring, eye opening and totally engaging! I’ll wear the title of “badass nani” as a badge of honour after reading this book!’ – Lillete Dubey, actor and theatre director
‘I never got to meet my nani or my dadi, so I had romanticised ideas of them, traditional and wise women who would have fed me incessantly! But in this extraordinary book, I found such inspiring, brave, and kickass women that I truly wonder what incredible, complex, and non-cliched women they might actually have been. What a gift this is, to see and think differently about Indian women.’ – Divia Thani, Global Editorial Director, Conde Nast Traveller
‘Every chapter of Bullet Nani felt like a small jolt of courage. These women dodged bombs, broke into closed rooms, ran towards lives no one had imagined for them, and they did it without permission. Jasreen has written them with such care and such bite. I closed the book feeling braver, and that's the highest compliment I can give it.’ – Pooja Dhingra, chef and founder of Le15 Patisserie
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