Fairytales laud and applaud some of the finest, most beautiful dainty darlings who made up all of our childhood memories. They are praised for their beauty, valour and grace, which is rightfully done so. But did you know that, beyond the realm, which celebrates these women, lies a realm completely forgotten? Or might I say, completely ‘REJECTED’?Let’s read a few folk-tales and accounts from history about brave, bold and beautiful women, which will make you sit on the edge of your seat and clamp down hard on your nails till the very end. Coupled with paper-roll comics and enrapturing story telling, this is the stuff made of Disney Magic. Here’s a list of 5 rejected princesses:
Rejected Princesses #1 Sutematsu Oyama (1860-1919) Japan’s First College-educated Woman
Sutematsu Oyama is a rather sorrowful name, which means ‘discarded’. Her mother gave this name to her when she was about to leave for the States to earn education. At age 11, along with 4 other girls, aged 6-14, these inhibited girls set out on one common conviction: TO SURVIVE. They didn’t know the language, the culture and hardly ever communicated with anyone. But Sutematsu Oyama was a hard-skinned lady who didn’t let her name destroy her. She went onto changing Japan forever.
Soraya Tarzi (1899-1968) The Human Rights Queen of Afghanistan:
Soraya Tarzi was the Queen of Reform, who along with her just and wise husband,King Amanullah, fought tooth and nail to bring justice to aggrieved and abused women, worked to achieve co-education and advancement of science and technology in an age when women were expected to crouch in the shadows of men. Her bold demeanour was met with oppression and criticism, which led to an unfortunate series of events.
Anahit (Armenian Folktale) The Queen who made the King get a job! LITERALLY! :
Remember those days when women would swoon and get a concussion and hit the floor when they’d get marriage proposals from princes or kings? Well, our Anahit addressed the proposal a tad bit differently. She demanded that her Prince get a job. You can’t just ask that of the Royalty but the Prince had fallen head over heels in love with this head-strong woman and made her eventually fall for him. She was not only an educator, but also a badass who went on to freeing her husband from the clutches of a bandit.
Takeko Nakano (1846-1868) The Samurai who refused to die quietly:
This is a story of a fearless sword warrior who showed men that she too was as swift and steely as a sword forged in true blood. She taught martial arts to women and took upon the responsibility to catch peeping toms at bathhouses red handed. When the sword of death was hanging high over these women, they were far from surrendering to it. Takeko Nakano, especially, refused to be buried as a mere trophy.
Isabella of France (1295-1358) The She-Wolf of France:
Isabella of France grew up listening to stories of Knights and Kings, Princes and Princesses. She was beautiful and was wed to a mighty handsome king, Edward II. But her happiness was short-lived. The king had eyes for someone else in his court. Her life was never easy. Struck with misfortune and unrequited love, she decided to turn her fate around for herself. The cunning and audacious Queen wasn’t short of valour and battlefield wit. She forged contracts, sat for council meetings with her husband and took upon her duties bravely. Her forlorn love life was ever so bereft of belongingness and affection. She was one of the first rejected princesses.
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