Zainab Anwar

Fluid

Marker Drawing

Girl from Bayt Lahm بيت لحم, Palestine

Portrait

निर्भया لیلا

Nirbhaya is a Hindi female word for fearless; I first heard this word in reference to the victim of the 2012 gang rape case in Delhi. Leila is an Urdu/Persian female name derived from the word “Leil” meaning night, which has the same pronunciation as knight in English. Leila is a popular figure from the Romeo and Juliet of the East “Leila Majnun”, who is forcibly married off. The artwork itself is inspired by female figures in Indian history; mainly, Razia Sultana and Laxmibai. Razia Sultana was the only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. Laxmibai was a queen who fought against the British during the Indian Rebellion.