Review:

“Steer clear of haters – their negativity is more about them than you.”

I literally ran to my grandmas – my dadi and nani and started asking them about their hardships and their stories as I finished reading this book. And that’s when I realised how many things we have today that make life easier for us, and how difficult it would have been for women of their time to simply survive, make choices, and still bloom so beautifully. The book also made me think about how easily we look at the women of previous generations only through the roles they played, as mothers, wives, grandmothers or homemakers, without knowing the dreams they had before those roles became such a big part of their lives. These stories make you wonder how many such stories exist within our own families that we have never stopped to ask about.

I wanted to read something that is inspiring, light, and meaningful, and that’s when I picked up this book. Right from its quirky title and cover, I knew this book would be another interesting journey, and it definitely was. Bullet Nani and Other Badass Indian Grandmas by Jasreen Mayal Khanna is a journey of 12 inspiring grandmothers who took the reins of their lives into their own hands and decided to live life on their own terms. Every grandmother you meet here has an remarkable story to tell, taking us through the ups and downs they faced at a time when girls and women were often expected to remain within the four walls of their homes. These grandmas stepped beyond those boundaries and stepped out into the world to live their dreams.

Inspired by her own nani, Jasreen discovered 11 other grandmas who pushed their boundaries from their youth all the way into old age. From dodging bombs and bullets and working in refugee camps to becoming scientists and IPS officers, from becoming winemakers despite societal reactions to taking a leap of faith and doing something outside their comfort zone, and even building a huge following online, these women have lived remarkably different lives. Each of them comes from a different region, community, background, and level of privilege, and their paths to independence are equally different. And that is what makes this collection broader than simply a collection of stories about success. These are stories about choices, circumstances, responsibilities, courage, and the lives these women built for themselves and their families. The book is insightful, intense, and emotional. Jasreen wonderfully shares each of their journeys, and we can relate to the situations they must have been in and the way they came out of them.

Jasreen’s writing style is captivating, crisp, and relatable, with a descriptive narrative that never feels heavy. She gives us enough of each woman’s journey to understand her circumstances, struggles, relationships, and choices without making the stories feel overwhelming. The writing makes it easy to connect with the women and understand the times they lived in. We see women rising above societal expectations and everything that was expected of them simply because they were women and were supposed to remain within the household. We see how they balanced family and work, how they brought change, and how they shaped their futures.

I also loved the idea of rebellion that runs through the book. There are acts of independence that are extraordinary, while others are seemingly small choices that become revolutionary because of the circumstances in which these women made them. What may seem like an ordinary decision today could have required enormous courage in their time. What stayed with me was how differently courage looks for each of these women. For some, it meant pursuing a career or stepping into spaces where women were rarely seen. For others, it meant making choices because circumstances demanded it, taking responsibility for themselves and their families, or finding a way to build something of their own within the realities of their lives. It is not always about choosing yourself over everything else; sometimes, it is about choosing what is right for you and your family and finding the courage to make that choice.

I loved the stories of nuclear scientist Thankam P., grey-haired model Gita Prakash, Aapli Aji Suman Dhamane, ancient warrior Meenakshi Amma, wild winemaker Augusta Maria do Rosario Noronha, and our Bullet Nani, Ramindar Dhillon. Gita Prakash’s story particularly stayed with me. She was a doctor, became a radio jockey in her forties, and later became a grey-haired model in her fifties. Her journey is a reminder that reinventing yourself does not have to stop at a particular age.

All the stories are brilliantly brought together by Jasreen. What I appreciated is the way she narrates the struggles, responsibilities, and difficult choices behind their achievements. Another aspect I loved was the advice at the end of each chapter. Each grandmother leaves you with something to think about, and the advice never feels preachy. It feels more like listening to someone who has lived enough life to know what truly matters. I loved the advice every grandma has given here. I would have loved a little more detail and context around some of their journeys. But given the number of women covered, the concise format also makes the book an easy and engaging read.

The book also challenges the idea that there is a certain age by which we are supposed to have figured everything out or stopped trying something new. These women continued to learn, work, reinvent themselves, and take chances at different stages of their lives. Their stories remind us that courage, ambition, curiosity, and the desire to do something meaningful do not have an expiry date.

Bullet Nani and Other Badass Indian Grandmas is a book that you must read if you are looking for something emotional, inspiring, and hopeful. This book reminds us that our circumstances may shape our choices, but they don’t necessarily have to define the limits of what we can do with our lives.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Bullet Nani and Other Badass Indian Grandmas about?

It shares the real-life journeys of 12 remarkable Indian grandmothers who challenged societal expectations, navigated difficult circumstances, pursued their dreams, and built meaningful lives for themselves and their families.

2. Who should read Bullet Nani and Other Badass Indian Grandmas?

It is ideal for readers who enjoy inspiring real-life stories, women’s journeys, biographies, and books about courage, resilience, and reinvention.

3. What are the major themes of the book?

The book explores courage, ambition, family, independence, societal expectations, resilience, difficult choices, circumstances, and reinvention at different stages of life.

4. What makes this book different?

The 12 women come from different regions, communities, backgrounds, and circumstances. Their stories go beyond achievements to explore the struggles, responsibilities, choices, and realities behind their journeys.

5. Is Bullet Nani and Other Badass Indian Grandmas a biography?

It is a collection of real-life stories profiling the lives and experiences of 12 Indian grandmothers.

6. What is the biggest takeaway from the book?

The book reminds us that our circumstances may shape our choices, but they don’t necessarily have to define the limits of what we can do with our lives.

Reader_viddh’s Take

A powerful and hopeful collection of stories that made me look at the women of previous generations differently. What stayed with me most was the realisation that we often know our grandmothers through the roles they played, without knowing the dreams, struggles, and choices that shaped their lives. These 12 stories remind us that courage, ambition, curiosity, and the desire to do something meaningful don’t have an expiry date.

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