In December 2012, a 23-year-old student becomes the victim of a gang rape on a bus in Delhi. Her death shortly thereafter sparks weeks of protests in India. Katharina Kakar's moving book reveals the lived reality of women on the subcontinent, who suffer countless injustices but often display unimaginable courage to fight back. Violence takes many forms: honor killings and domestic violence, dowry murders and rapes, the abortion of female fetuses and the killing of baby girls are commonplace in India. When seeking the reasons, one encounters two equally overwhelming realities: the patriarchal structures in higher castes and the economic struggle for survival in lower classes. Katharina Kakar paints a diverse picture of the world of Indian women, including its brighter sides.