A reader recalls a similar phenomenon - in the violence after the assasination of Indira Gandhi - as captured by Amitav Ghosh in "The Ghosts of Mrs. Gandhi":
"And then something happened that I have never completely understood.
Nothing was said; there was no signal, nor was there any break in the
rhythm of our chanting. But suddenly all women in our group - and the
women made up more than half of the group's numbers - stepped out and
surrounded the men; their saris and kameezes became thin, fluttering
barrier, a wall around us. They turned to face the approaching men,
challenging them, daring them to attack.
The thugs took a few more steps toward us and then faltered, confused.
A moment later, they were gone."
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2009/06/women-in-the-vanguard-ctd/199756/
