Off the Beaten Track: The Story of My Unconventional Life

• Originally written in Urdu and translated by her granddaughter Shahana Raza, the book offers a personal account of life in twentieth-century India, from privileged beginnings in Bhopal to broadcasting, Partition and personal struggles

Saeeda Bano (1914–2001) was the first woman in India to work as a radio newsreader and became a pioneering voice in Urdu broadcasting. Shahana Raza, her granddaughter, translated the memoir and has worked in television, radio and print media.

The memoir follows Saeeda Bano’s extraordinary journey as she challenges the expectations placed on women of her time. Her story combines personal courage, love, family, journalism and the trauma of Partition, offering a unique perspective on India’s social history.