• Ira Mukhoty on the narratives around women’s contribution to history 

Women play a large part in the making of our society. From leading nations to scientific discoveries, women have been responsible for so many important advances. However, many of them do not receive the recognition they deserve. 

“I still continue to find it shocking that the women who contributed so much were written out of history,” bestselling author, Ira Mukhoty, told The Daily Morning Brunch on a recent visit to Sri Lanka as part of the recently concluded HSBC Ceylon Literary and Art Festival. 

Her books include Akbar: the great Mughal, Daughters of the Sun: Empresses, Queens and Begum of the Mughal Empire and Heroines: Powerful Indian Women of Myth and History. Mukhoty focuses on hidden narratives and complex themes surrounding colonisation and women’s issues. 

She spoke to us about her books  and about the intriguing women in history.

Forgotten women 

Many women often feel like they have to try harder and achieve more in order to get recognition,however this recognition is often inadequate. Many of these women find themselves erased in history. 

“For example we all know Mendelssohn as Felix Mendelssohn, the man,” Mukhothy said. “But apparently the piece I had listened to was a piece by his sister, Fannie Mendelssohn, that had been appropriated.” 

Mukhoty said that this unfortunate reality has been a common occurrence across areas, cultures and centuries. 

“If a woman does something, it is often appropriated by her husband, brother or son and we often forget the women’s names,” she said. “So patriarchy functions in such a way that women are not allowed to claim things in their name.”

This is what Mukhoty wants to explore through her work. Her book, Song of Draupadi, explores the long forgotten struggles and stories of women in the Mahabharat. The book, along with her other works, invites readers to explore the established narratives and women’s role in culture and society. 

Challenging culture 

While many, if not all, women are affected by patriarchal practices, they often hear the excuse of it being a cultural issue. 

“There are a lot of regressive customs that we claim as our culture,” she said. 

However, she noted that these practices have often come because of external influences that have little to do with the culture of a country or area. 

“There is a practice that is very popular in the North of India that women fast for their husbands,” Mukhothy said, referring to the Indian practice of Karva Chauth. “However, this idea that women make sacrifices has been exoticised by Bollywood, which portrayed these practices with a lot of fanfare and celebration.” 

The term ‘it is our culture’ has often become a common statement that many women across the world are familiar with. Yet, many of them feel that change is often next to impossible with existing structures. 

Fighting the structures 

While Mukhoty acknowledged the challenges of changing the cultural landscape, she noted that there are steps that can be taken to ensure a more equal society. 

“We need to have more female ministers,” she said. “We need to have more women in the justice system so that laws become more gender sensitive.” 

While she noted that a changing legal and judicial system can do wonders, it would be nothing without the education that makes people accept them. 

“We must teach our sons to be more sensitive to gender issues,” she said. “And we need to teach them how these affect women and how they feel about it.” 

She said that while these changes take time, they are not impossible to achieve. She hopes her writing will inspire and encourage discussions about a woman’s place in society and how communities all around the globe can contribute towards recognising and respecting its women. 

A look towards the future 

By writing about women, even women who do not meet societal expectations, Mukhothy wishes to help people understand the importance of women in society. 

“I’m writing a biography about Begum Samru,” she said, referring to her current work in progress. 

Begum Samru started her career as a dancer in eighteenth century India and rose to become the ruler of the principality of Sardhana. 

“She was a wife and a courtesan who eventually took control of her husband’s army after he died,” she said. “She played a very important part in Hindustani politics and I’m here to explore her life.” 

Her upcoming work, like her other work, is a tribute to the powerful, inspiring and complex women that make up our history and is a must read for anyone looking to learn about forgotten women.