National Movement and Empowerment of Women: Nation-building in the United Provinces

Book Details

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Author: Malabika Pande

• Language: English

• Edition: 2018

• ISBN: 9788131608784

• Pages: 178

• Cover: Hardcover

• Package Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches

About the Book
This book explores the political activism of women in the United Provinces of India, offering new perspectives on their involvement in the nationalist movement. It examines the relationship between levels of education and women’s engagement in nationalist activities, as well as the reciprocal influence of nationalist agitation on women's educational advancements. The book delves into the penetration of the national movement into various social strata, including middle-class and even "untouchable" households, providing a clear picture of the grassroots nature of the movement.

The book also focuses on four specific districts—Allahabad, Lucknow, Agra, and Almora—each representing different regions of the United Provinces (eastern, central, western, and northern). A significant portion of the book discusses the legislative contributions of women in the Provincial Legislative Assembly from 1937 to 1939. Contrary to the conventional view that these women did little in the Assembly, the study highlights their remarkable contributions, particularly in defending nationalism and helping to shape policies, despite the fact that only thirteen women members were present in a total of 228 members.

This book offers an in-depth look at the positive and active participation of women in nation-building during a pivotal time in India's history.

Contents

1. Women, Education, and Politics in the United Provinces: An Overview, 1916–1942

2. National Education and Its Impact

3. Women and the Nationalist Upsurge in Allahabad

4. Conservatives Become Radicals in Lucknow

5. Agra Women Storm Male Bastions

6. Women of Almora Arise

7. Nationalism versus Self-Determination: Upsurge in the Assembly

8. Conclusions

9. Bibliography

10. Index

About the Author
Malabika Pande is a Professor in the Department of History at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Her research interests include Gandhi’s social theory and praxis, women's development, and gender justice. She has been involved in public campaigns addressing issues such as literacy, dowry, sexual harassment, communalism, and electoral reforms. Her previous work, Gandhi’s Vision of Social Transformation (2011), examines the holistic nature of Gandhi's social thought in the Indian context.