In the twentie century six women have held the office on prime minister in South Asia. Widely- known and reported upon are Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who headed the Sri Lankan government, and Indira Gandhi who held the same position in India. More recent are Benazir Bhutto, prime minister of Pakistan, Sheikh Hasina Wazed and Khaleda Zia, holders of the same position in Bangladesh, and Chandrika Kumaratunga, Sri Lankan President. Why countries so long associated with patriarchy and the subordination of women should be the focus for so many politically prominent females? The common explanation is the inheritance of power as each of these women was a widow or daughter of a slain male leader of their countries. Seemingly these women arrived in this position solely by chance, through the lack of an alternative male successor. This article argues that succession to head of the government is not automatic, accidental process. The article explores the ways in which succession always has to be “constructed”. To illustrate this point I will consider in some detail the rise to power of these six women.