During the last century, Urdu women writers have produced a substantial
and varied body of work. Yet, it has been dismissed by literary scholars
who, biased by gender and religion, have never given it 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.
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 writing in India.
