Antapurer Atmakatha

• Author: Chitra Deb
• Genre: Nari O Naribad
• Cover: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9788170665472
• Pages: 172
• Weight: 306 grams

Key Highlights:

• Antapurer Atmakatha is a significant work by Chitra Deb that delves into the lives of Bengali women during the 19th century, specifically between 1809 and 1900.
• The book is a compilation of autobiographies, memoirs, and diaries of nearly 60 Bengali women, ranging from Rasssundari Devi, the first Bengali woman to write an autobiography, to Amiya Bala Devi, a victimized wife.
• These women’s writings, though scattered across time, present a detailed and intimate portrayal of Bengali women's lives, struggles, and mental evolution.
• The author brings these fragmented accounts together to reconstruct the mental and emotional journey of Bengali women during a transformative period in society, providing an authentic, nuanced, and comprehensive narrative of Bengali women's awakening.
• The book also highlights the evolution of women's roles in society, from their initial struggles to becoming part of a more assertive, intellectual movement. The women’s personal stories are not only historical records but also reflections on the larger social changes of the time.
• Antapurer Atmakatha is both a history of women’s empowerment in Bengal and an authentic account of how Bengali women found their voice in a patriarchal society.

Author Information:

• Chitra Deb was a prominent scholar who completed her Master's degree in Bengali from Calcutta University and went on to earn a Doctorate through her research on an unexplored medieval Mahabharata.
• She is known for her extensive work on Bengali medieval texts, and she edited important texts such as Kabi Chandra’s Mahabharata, Vishnupuri Ramayana, and Ketkadas Kshemananda’s Manasamangal, among others.
• Chitra Deb also edited and wrote on the role of women in Bengali culture, with one of her most notable works being "Thakurbari’r Andormohol", which explored the lives of women in the Tagore family and their contributions to Bengali culture.
• Her research on Bengali women's literature and her insights into Bengali women’s struggles and evolution were widely recognized in academic circles.
• She was also a part of the Anandabazar Patrika’s Library Division, contributing her scholarly work to the paper.
• Chitra Deb passed away on 1st October 2017.

Purpose and Content:

• Antapurer Atmakatha is not only a compilation of women’s personal narratives but also serves as a reflection on how these women, through their writings, contributed to the development of Bengali women’s consciousness.
• The book acts as a chronicle of Bengal’s female awakening, showcasing how these women navigated social constraints, found strength in their voices, and contributed to the cultural evolution of Bengali society.
• It offers a deep dive into the psyche of these women, showcasing their thoughts, struggles, and emotional landscapes, which had remained hidden until these autobiographies and memoirs were collected and analyzed together.

Summary:

In Antapurer Atmakatha, Chitra Deb brings to the forefront the voices of Bengali women who lived through the 19th century, capturing their emotional journeys, struggles, and intellectual transformations. By weaving together writings from women like Rasssundari Devi and Amiya Bala Devi, the book offers a detailed portrait of Bengali women’s lives from a deeply personal perspective. The work is a compelling historical account of the women's movement in Bengal, marking their evolution from oppressed individuals to intellectual and emotional forces that shaped the course of the Bengali Renaissance.