Women’s Voices: Selections from Nineteenth and Early-Twentieth Century Indian Writing in English

This anthology brings together the writings of some Indian women who made pioneering social and literary contributions during the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. It draws attention to the range and quality of this writing, some of which has slipped from public memory The anthology comprises excerpts from letters, tracts, diaries, magazines, articles, autobiographies, biographies, short stories, and even speeches. The women writers included here address a wide range of issues, some particularly important in the context of the nineteenth century—a time when the demand for social reforms for women began to acquire a political dimension and was perceived as part of a larger national problem. Animate with conviction, most of the writing is observant and sharp, and has an urgency that addresses the reader directly. Traversing a wide canvas, some of the excerpts discuss theatre, dance, travel, and personal experiences, while others dwell on social issues, doctrinal problems, orthodox, practises, and the position of women in society. An introduction by Eunice de Souza captures the spirit of this anthology and calls for a re-assessment of the place of these women writers in India’s literary canon. The biographical notes by Lindsay Pereira complete the picture by providing essential details of the lives and works of these women. This book is a must for anyone interested in women’s literature of modern India.