Names of the Women

Under a predawn sky, hushed save for the hum of starlight and the songs of birds, a group of resolute women returns to the cave where they had laid the body of their saviour, only to find it profoundly empty. Jeet Thayil's 'Names of the Women' courageously reimagines one of the most pivotal narratives in human history through the eyes of fifteen women whose lives intertwined with that of Christ. These are the unsung heroines who remained steadfast through the crucifixion, when his male disciples had scattered, and who courageously propagated his radical message of equality. Their unwavering conviction and shared purpose made them a potent threat to the burgeoning power structures within the early church. By amplifying these silenced voices, Thayil challenges readers to experience the New Testament story anew, demanding a profound re-evaluation of its traditional telling and the enduring strength of faith, loyalty, and resistance.