About Begums of Peshawar
The Begums of Peshawar by Najma Yusufi is a powerful novel that explores identity, womanhood, and cultural belonging through the lives of four sisters connected to Peshawar. Set across shifting social and political landscapes, the story captures how tradition, displacement, and modern realities shape women’s inner and outer worlds.
Each sister represents a different response to heritage and change—duty, rebellion, silence, and self-discovery. As their lives unfold, the novel reveals the emotional cost of migration, the weight of family expectations, and the unspoken struggles carried by women across generations. Personal memories blend with collective history, creating a narrative that is both intimate and socially reflective.
Rich in atmosphere and deeply human, The Begums of Peshawar is a story about finding voice, negotiating identity between cultures, and reclaiming agency in spaces where women are often unheard. The novel ultimately asks what it means to belong—and whether home is a place, a memory, or a state of mind.
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Author Bio:
Najma Yusufi is a film-maker and lecturer, and a descendant of the Afghan Durranis on her mother,s side. After completing her BA from the London College of Fashion, she worked for a number of fashion houses before beginning her foray into writing after her mother,s death in 2001, in an attempt to pay tribute to the Pathan women of Peshawar. She has also made films on the transgender community and the lawyers of Lucknow, India. She currently lives in Somerset with her partner and two daughters.