Women, War and the Making of Bangladesh by Yasmin Saikia

“Women, War and the Making of Bangladesh” is a historical non-fiction book written by Yasmin Saikia, a professor of history at Arizona State University. The book provides a detailed account of the role that women played in the Bangladesh Liberation War, which took place in 1971 and resulted in the creation of the independent nation of Bangladesh.

Saikia’s book challenges traditional narratives of the war, which have tended to focus on the actions of male political leaders and military figures. Instead, she focuses on the experiences of women from all walks of life, including peasants, students, and urban professionals, who participated in the struggle for independence in various ways.

The book explores the ways in which women’s activism and participation in the war helped to reshape social and cultural norms in Bangladesh. Saikia also examines the challenges that women faced in the aftermath of the war, including the trauma of violence and displacement, as well as the struggle to gain recognition and political power in the new nation.

“Women, War and the Making of Bangladesh” is a well-researched and engaging book that sheds light on an important but often overlooked aspect of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Saikia’s writing is clear and accessible, and she draws on a wide range of sources, including interviews with women who participated in the war, to provide a rich and nuanced account of the conflict. The book has been widely praised for its contributions to the fields of women’s history and South Asian studies.