Rebel with a Cause: How Ismat Chughtai Rewrote the Rules for Girls (the Magic Makers Series) Full-Colour Picture Book Biography Ages 6+

A unique biography that explores and celebrates the life of one of India’s greatest Urdu writers as a rebellious little girl.

’Aren’t girls and boys equal?’

Right from childhood, Chunni’s favourite word was ’why’. Why is the sky blue and the grass green? Why can’t I look at the sun for long? Why can’t I have short hair like my brothers?
Chunni’s curious mind was always bubbling with questions. One day, when a coach arrives to teach her brothers how to ride a snowy white horse, Chunni decides she wants to ride, too.

But when she’s told she can’t because she’s a girl, will Chunni have the courage to stand up for herself and ask the most important question of all: why not?

Mamta Nainy is a children’s writer, editor and translator based in New Delhi. She spent some years in advertising before an apple fell on her head while she was sitting under a mango tree and she had her Eureka moment. She has been writing for children since then. She has authored many books for children, including A Brush with Indian Art which won The Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Award 2019 in the Best Book Non-Fiction category.