Rewriting History: The Life and Times of Pandita RamabaiIn this classic study of Pandita Ramabai's life, Uma Chakravarti brings to light one of the foremost thinkers of nineteenth-century India and one of its earliest feminists. A scholar and an eloquent speaker, Ramabai was no stranger to controversy. Her critique of Brahminical patriarchy was in sharp contrast to Annie Besant, who championed the cause of Hindu society. And in an act seen by contemporary Hindu society as a betrayal not only of her religion but of her nation, Ramabai – herself a high-caste Hindu widow – chose to convert to Christianity. Chakravarti's book stands out as one of the most important critiques of gender and power relations in colonial India, with particular emphasis on issues of class and caste. Published by Zubaan. |
Contents
Caste Contestation Class Formation Nationalism and Gender | |
PART | |
Men Women and the Embattled Family | |
The Critique of Cultural Practices in Womens | |
PART THREE | |
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Common terms and phrases
Age of Consent Anandibai Annie Besant argued argument Bombay Brahmanas Brahmanical patriarchy British Caste Hindu Woman caste system century Maharashtra Chitpavan Christianity cited colonial conjugal rights controversy court critique cultural custom customary law Dadaji daughter Delhi dharma Durga elite enforced widowhood English especially evident father female girls High Caste Hindu Hindu law Hindu Widows Hinduism household husband Ibid ideology India institution issues Karve Kshatriya Kunbis labour Letters and Correspondence live lower castes Maharashtra male Maratha marriage married middle class mother nation nineteenth century nonBrahmana norms O’Hanlon oppressive Pandita Ramabai Parvati Pathare Prabhus patriarchy Peshwai Phule political Poona position practices Rakhmabai Ramabai Ranade Ranade’s recognised reformist regarded relationship religion religious restitution of conjugal schooled sexual Shastri Shivaji Shudras Sister Geraldine Social Reform Sonars status structures Tarabai Tarabai Shinde Tilak tonsure traditional upper castes western India widow remarriage wife wife’s wives women writing young