Read about the Mafia Queens of Mumbai

About The Book:

• Book: Mafia Queens Of Mumbai: Stories Of Women From The Ganglands
• Author: S. Hussain Zaidi, Jane Borges
• Publisher: Tranquebar Press
• Publication date: 15th April 2011

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Did you know that the word Mafia is a derivative of a Sicilian adjective, which roughly translates to boldness or bravado?

What is the image that comes into your head when you hear the word Mafia and Mumbai in the same sentence?

Is it the opulent lifestyle that they lead, as shown in Bollywood movies? Is it their years of struggle through which they attained that lifestyle? 

Do you only envision macho men when you hear the word Mafia?

Well, this book is about to change that.

When it comes to women criminals, the author says:

“I realised they were gutsier, far more scheming, and lethal when it came to pursuing their goals.”

Through this work, we get an insight into the complex minds and psyche of women criminals. 

Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan, Abu Salem, Chhota Rajan, Karim Lala – the who’s who of the underworld were often single-handedly supported or taken on by certain women who were not only bold and brave but were determined to have their way.

For some of these women, this kind of life was circumstantial, while for others, it was their choice.

At the end of the day, they are criminals and the author in no way, glorifies them. He simply puts forward their stories which somehow fail to get the limelight as compared to their male counterparts.

This book talks about:

Jenabai, Mastan not only considered her his sister and Dawood as his surrogate mother, she also tied a rakhi to Morarji Desai.

Gangubai Kathiawadi, the matriarch of Kamathipura, who is revered by all sex workers in her area, to the present day.

Ashraf, aka Sapna, who wanted revenge for her husband’s death and decided to take on Dawood Ibrahim.

Monica Bedi, who got caught up because of her love for one Abu Salem….

The list continues.

The book is informative, intriguing and neutral in its approach. Go ahead, pick this up to get your quota of these hardened women who chose to have their way in a world that is not yet ready to accept them. 

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