Women in Colonial Punjab: Social, Economic and Political Perspectives

This compendium of 36 papers, presented at a UGC sponsored seminar, organized by Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, Punjab, attempts to examine the various issues pertaining to women in colonial Punjab, with special reference to social, economic and political perspectives.

Giving an overview of the history and historiography of women and gender relations in colonial Punjab, the contributors look at the prejudices against female education and the role played by the reform movements, missionaries and the government in imparting education to women. They also deal with the practice of female infanticide, child marriage, women’s right to inheritance, and social reforms. The role of Punjab women in freedom struggle of India, Gandhian mass movements, politics and administration has been analyzed as well.