Bad Daughter, my feminist journey from Mumbai’s slums to New York’s billboards, with a healing stopover in tropical Kerala
For every woman who has been told she’s “too much,” this is a memoir about becoming exactly who you’re meant to be.
Who is this book for?
Perfect for readers of books like Untamed, We Should All Be Feminists and Educated, Bad Daughter is the raw, unflinching true story of a woman who chose radical self-love over tradition. For as long as I could remember, I was called a “Bad Daughter” for defying the rigid expectations placed on “good Indian girls.” But in my rebellion, I found my voice.
What is it about?
From a harrowing childhood in a Mumbai slum—haunted by a violent father and the brutal murder of her mother—this is a story of resilience and unapologetic survival. With a fire in my belly, I battled patriarchy, chased my dreams, and built a new life in London, creating a successful podcast & platform to inspire other women to find their own freedom.
Yet, all my success couldn’t outrun the past. Faced with debilitating mental health, I went on a healing journey exploring everything from psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, acupuncture to Tantra. But to truly heal, I had to go back to my birthplace, lush tropical Kerala. There, I experienced the most profound spiritual transformation in Kerala’s ancient temples, dark rituals and ancestral wisdom. My powerful & spiritual journey is a testament to the fact that healing doesn’t just mean self-care spa weekends and wellness programs; it means facing the darkest parts of yourself and finding your way back home to yourself.
Tell more more…
One of those must-read books for women, this inspirational memoir is set to be a book club favourite in women’s non-fiction.
Bad Daughter is an essential feminist book, an empowering book for every woman who wants to break free. It’s a top book for every woman who wants to reclaim her own power. This powerful memoir is a reminder that the courage to be your authentic self can transform your own life – and the lives of those around you.
Bad Daughter, my feminist journey from Mumbai’s slums to New York’s billboards, with a healing stopover in tropical Kerala
For every woman who has been told she’s “too much,” this is a memoir about becoming exactly who you’re meant to be.
Who is this book for?
Perfect for readers of books like Untamed, We Should All Be Feminists and Educated, Bad Daughter is the raw, unflinching true story of a woman who chose radical self-love over tradition. For as long as I could remember, I was called a “Bad Daughter” for defying the rigid expectations placed on “good Indian girls.” But in my rebellion, I found my voice.
What is it about?
From a harrowing childhood in a Mumbai slum—haunted by a violent father and the brutal murder of her mother—this is a story of resilience and unapologetic survival. With a fire in my belly, I battled patriarchy, chased my dreams, and built a new life in London, creating a successful podcast & platform to inspire other women to find their own freedom.
Yet, all my success couldn’t outrun the past. Faced with debilitating mental health, I went on a healing journey exploring everything from psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, acupuncture to Tantra. But to truly heal, I had to go back to my birthplace, lush tropical Kerala. There, I experienced the most profound spiritual transformation in Kerala’s ancient temples, dark rituals and ancestral wisdom. My powerful & spiritual journey is a testament to the fact that healing doesn’t just mean self-care spa weekends and wellness programs; it means facing the darkest parts of yourself and finding your way back home to yourself.
Tell me more…
One of those must-read books for women, this inspirational memoir is set to be a book club favourite in women’s non-fiction.
Bad Daughter is an essential feminist book, an empowering book for every woman who wants to break free. It’s a top book for every woman who wants to reclaim her own power. This powerful memoir is a reminder that the courage to be your authentic self can transform your own life – and the lives of those around you.
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
A feminist activist and writer, Sangeeta Pillai is the creator of the multi-award-winning Masala Podcast as well as the founder of South Asian feminist network Soul Sutras. Sangeeta is recognised as a leading voice for South Asian feminism globally.
Sangeeta’s work challenges many cultural taboos: from sex, sexuality, periods, shame, mental health, menopause and more. While celebrating many life-enhancing aspects of her South Asian culture: from Kamasutra, Tantra, Ayurveda, Bollywood and beyond.
Sangeeta’s Masala Podcast has won 6 British Podcast Awards, 1 Audio Production Award & the Spotify SoundUp 2018 award.
Most recently, Sangeeta and Masala Podcast have been on giant billboards in New York, London, Dublin, Cardiff & Glasgow.
Sangeeta has been featured extensively in the press from BBC Radio, Guardian, Metro, Cosmopolitan, The Standard, Stylist, Eastern Eye to Huffington Post.
She is also the creator of the Masala Monologues series of writing workshops & theatre shows in the UK & the US.
Sangeeta is a regular speaker at WOW Festival, Shameless Festival, Primadonna Festival well as being a regular speaker on innumerable panels and podcasts.
A feminist activist and writer, Sangeeta Pillai is the creator of the multi-award-winning Masala Podcast as well as the founder of South Asian feminist network Soul Sutras. Sangeeta is recognised as a leading voice for South Asian feminism globally.
Sangeeta’s work challenges many cultural taboos: from sex, sexuality, periods, shame, mental health, menopause and more. While celebrating many life-enhancing aspects of her South Asian culture: from Kamasutra, Tantra, Ayurveda, Bollywood and beyond.
Sangeeta’s Masala Podcast has won 6 British Podcast Awards, 1 Audio Production Award & the Spotify SoundUp 2018 award.
Most recently, Sangeeta and Masala Podcast have been on giant billboards in New York, London, Dublin, Cardiff & Glasgow.
Sangeeta has been featured extensively in the press from BBC Radio, Guardian, Metro, Cosmopolitan, The Standard, Stylist, Eastern Eye to Huffington Post.
She is also the creator of the Masala Monologues series of writing workshops & theatre shows in the UK & the US.
Sangeeta is a regular speaker at WOW Festival, Shameless Festival, Primadonna Festival well as being a regular speaker on innumerable panels and podcasts.
CHALLENGING PATRIARCHY FOREVER
Sangeeta Pillai was born a Bad Daughter, in lush rural Kerala. In her book Bad Daughter, Sangeeta talks about moving from an idyllic Kerala home to the slums of Mumbai. She also talks about growing up with a violent, alcoholic father in the slums of Mumbai and her traumatic childhood.
Eventually, Sangeeta moved to London where she created her multi-award-winning Masala Podcast and her South Asian feminist network Soul Sutras.
Although her early life was incredibly difficult, Sangeeta talks about turning her pain into power by becoming a feminist activist, writer, podcaster and speaker. She now she incites other women to do the same with her feminist advocacy, her award-winning Masala Podcast and now her book Bad Daughter.
Sangeeta Pillai was born a Bad Daughter, in lush rural Kerala. In her book Bad Daughter, Sangeeta talks about moving from an idyllic Kerala home to the slums of Mumbai. She also talks about growing up with a violent, alcoholic father in the slums of Mumbai and her traumatic childhood.
Eventually, Sangeeta moved to London where she created her multi-award-winning Masala Podcast and her South Asian feminist network Soul Sutras.
Although her early life was incredibly difficult, Sangeeta talks about turning her pain into power by becoming a feminist activist, writer, podcaster and speaker. She now she incites other women to do the same with her feminist advocacy, her award-winning Masala Podcast and now her book Bad Daughter.
Sangeeta Pillai was born a Bad Daughter, growing up in a Mumbai slum with a violent & traumatic childhood. She turned her pain into power by becoming a feminist activist, writer, podcaster and speaker – a leading voice for South Asian feminism globally.
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