Nafees Fazal became the first woman from a minority community to hold a ministerial post in South India. In her new book Breaking Barriers, co-authored by Sandhya Mendonca, Fazal explores her remarkable life, from her troubled childhood, her tumultuous political journey, and her personal beliefs as a liberal and a devout Muslim. She was known as a bold politician who was not afraid to speak her mind; her difficult childhood experiences shaped her political ambitions. “I was brought up by my grandparents till the age of six. My grandfather was the Sheriff of Madras at that time, and though he had such a noble post, he had a sadistic streak in him. He would ill-treat my grandmother, and my uncles did the same with their wives. All of this didn’t gel with me; it made me very angry.