In the late 18th century, Akar Kaur of Patiala led guerrilla attacks against Maratha invaders to protect her land. Women from Raikot sought British help to defend their territories. These stories often disappear from mainstream history.
The new book, The Lost Heer: Women in Colonial Punjab, by Canada-based Harleen Singh, brings these women back into focus. Published by Penguin, it spans nearly two centuries using archives, newspapers, journals, and oral histories.
At a discussion at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, former JNU professor Gurpreet Mahajan said the book shows the variety of women’s roles in Punjab’s past. “They were not just resisting or conforming. Sometimes they fought, sometimes they negotiated,” she explained.
The book challenges the silence patriarchy created around women’s history. It also highlights women’s encounters with colonial institutions and missionary schools, which expanded education and professional opportunities for girls. Even women-only train compartments, created for safety, unexpectedly boosted mobility and independence.
Singh’s work is both a detailed historical account and a valuable resource for future researchers. It reminds us that women in Colonial Punjab shaped society in ways history often overlooks.
