During the last century, Urdu women writers have produced a substantial and varied body of work. Yet, dismissed by literary scholars who have been biased by gender and religion, this work has not been given the attention it deserves. The Language They Chose is a landmark collection of women’s writing in Urdu, which reveals the versatility, creativity, and intelligence of this vast body of work.
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The Language They Chose brings together the best of this writing in a two volume set, including fiction and nonfiction. Editor Noor Zaheer has specifically created a selection of texts that reveal the wide range of subjects—from fantasy to romance to political critique and more—that women writers have focused on over the years. Zaheer’s selections also correct the mistaken assumption that Urdu is a language only used by Muslims—many of the writers gathered here are Hindu and Christian women whose chosen language of expression was Urdu. The result is an unprecedented collection that offers an essential contribution to the growing appreciation for women’s writings in India.