We know of Rani Lakshmi Bai's bravery tales, but we are not aware of Jhalkari Bai, the Dalit woman who helped her throughout, and fought right next to her in the uprising of 1857.

Did you know Subhadra Kumari Chauhan is the firebrand poet who wrote the poem on Rani of Jhansi taught to every child in school today?

His-story has effectively erased her-story all these centuries, discounting the work of women in war, with men claiming all the glory. New film Bhuj brings back all these discussions.

As a 3rd generation Partition survivor, I've heard of how my grandmothers and other women of the family carried poison to end their lives in case of 'anything awful' happening while fleeing their homes.

As Independence Day approaches, let's remember Dhanvanthi Rama Rau, Padma Bhushan winner and founder of India's family planning program. A feminist & visionary, she encouraged women's reproductive rights and was responsible for half a million men getting voluntary vasectomies.