Author: Malabika Pande

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 9788131608784

The present book seeks to explore new perspectives on political activism of women in the United Provinces in India. The relationship between levels of education and nationalist activity of women in the United Provinces is studied in detail, along with the reciprocal relationship between periods of heightened nationalist agitation and the rise in and extension of educational attainments. The social depth of the national movement, particularly its penetration into 'ordinary', middle-class, and sometimes even 'untouchable' households is also clearly visible from the many instances cited here. Another dimension of the political activism of the women in the United Provinces that is analyzed is the focus on four specific districts-namely Allahabad, Lucknow, Agra and Almora-which each represent four different regions (eastern, central, western, and northern) of the Provinces. A significant section of the book deals with the legislative and deliberative work performed by the women in the Provincial Legislative Assembly between 1937 and 1939. Contrary to the accepted idea that these women did nothing extraordinary in the Assembly, the study tries to show that their performance was quite out of the ordinary, particularly in terms of defining and defending nationalism against prejudiced attacks of their opponents and helping in formulating policies. Women members are only thirteen in number (out of a total 228), which makes their achievements all the more noteworthy. This book shows the positive nature of the participation of women in the nation-building process in the United Provinces. [Subject: India Studies, Gender Studies, Politics]