Indian feminist historiography

Indian feminist historiography 

Before answering the question what is feminist  historiography, it is important to highlight how gender approach emerged. As human society has evolved, new approaches to age old issues have developed. It is the recent concern and debates about the subordination of women and the need for the empowerment of women which gave rise to the gender sensitive approach to history. It began to be felt that women were ignored in the given conventional version of history.

Women’s experiences have often been marginalized in historical narratives, which has led to a dearth of documentation on their lives and contributions. The resultant search for a history inclusive of women has greatly expanded the scope of Historical enquiry - a change that is considered to be a revolution in historiography.

Indian feminist historiography aims to critically examine and highlight the role of women in Indian history . It challenges the traditional, patriarchal narratives of history and bring women's experience and contribution for historical analysis. 

The origins of Indian feminist historiography can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when women in India began to mobilize for their rights and recognition. Women like Pandita Ramabai, Rukhmabai, and Tarabai Shinde challenged the oppressive social norms of their time and advocated for women’s education, property rights, and legal autonomy.

Savatribai Phule- Mother of Indian Feminism 

However, it was in the 1970s that feminist scholars in India began to engage with history as a discipline and question the male-dominated narratives that had dominated the field for centuries. One of the pioneers of Indian feminist historiography was historian Uma Chakravarti, who published her seminal work “Rewriting Indian History” in 1979.

Uma Chakravarti

Chakravarti argued that the history of women in India had been erased and ignored, and that traditional historical narratives were based on a narrow and biased view of society. She called for a more inclusive and diverse approach to history that would recognize the agency and contributions of women, lower castes, and marginalized groups.

Since then, Indian feminist historiography has grown as a field, and numerous scholars have contributed to the documentation and analysis of women’s history. Some of the key themes that have emerged in this field include the role of women in political and social movements, the impact of colonialism on women’s lives, and the intersection of gender with caste, class, religion, and sexuality.

For example, feminist historians like Mrinalini Sinha and Tanika Sarkar have examined the role of women in the Indian independence movement, challenging the notion that women had a passive role in the struggle for freedom. They have shown how women participated in various forms of resistance and contributed to the anti-colonial struggle.

Indian feminist historiography led to many Women and gender studies in India leading to the creation of women’s studies programs in universities and research institutes.

Challenges of Indian feminist historiography

-One of the biggest criticisms of this field is that it is often limited to academic circles and does not reach a wider audience. 

-Another challenge is the lack of archival material and primary sources on women’s history.

-Feminist scholars have had to rely on alternative sources of information, such as oral histories and women’s literature, to reconstruct the histories of women.

The Indian feminist historiography has 

played a crucial role in expanding our understanding of Indian history and in creating a more inclusive and diverse approach to historical analysis.

- Poorva Singh 

History honours, Jesus and Mary college, Delhi University.