The book Women Rebels: Stories from Nepal and Nagaland is an attempt to explore and create a better understanding of the phenomenon of women rebels. Often cloaked in mystery, women rebels have ignited the popular imagination for time immemorial. The book is a product of a journey, spread over two years, into Nepal and Nagaland-both, home to rebel outfits with a strong presence of women in their rank and file. The study was undertaken to generate an understanding of what motivated dynamic, young women to leave their hearth and home and join the rebel ranks of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Nepal and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) in Nagaland, India. Although the two contexts presented a contrast, both were steeped in a rich tapestry of historical and cultural traditions. This, in turn, shaped the experiences and essence of the women rebels located in the two contexts. The book has tried to raise significant questions regarding the situatedness of women in the society, their expectations and the inter-linkages with the all pervasive, patriarchal framework.
