Was Rashsundari Devi a superstitious woman? If not, why not?
Rashsundari Devi was a housewife from a rich landlord's family in West Bengal. She was not allowed to learn to read and write. During her time, some 200 years ago, there was a prevalent belief that if a woman learnt to read and write, she would bring bad luck to her husband. Rashsundari Devi took this belief as false because she was not at all superstitious. She took strict decision and taught herself how to read and write in secret, well after her marriage. She even wrote her autobiography in Bangla at the age of 60. Her book titled Amor Jiban is the first known autobiography written by an Indian woman.
"Poor girls drop out of school because they are not interested in getting an education”. Re-read the last paragraph on page 62 and explain why this statement is not true.
What changes came to be seen with the emergence of new ideas about education and learning in the 19th century?
How do you think stereotypes, about what women can or cannot do, affect women's right to equality?
Can you describe two methods of struggle that the women's movement used to raise issues? If you had to organise a struggle against stereotypes, about what women can or cannot do, what method would you employ from the ones that you have read about? Why would you choose this particular method?
What are the various ways women apply to fight discrimination and seek justice? [V. Imp.]
Although the literacy rates have increased since independence, what remains the worrying factor with respect to gender?[V. Imp.]
List one reason why learning the alphabet was so important to women like Rashsundari Devi, Ramabai and Rokeya.
Why was Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain stopped from learning Bangla and English? How did she manage to team these languages?
Who set up a Mission in Khedgaon near Pune in 1898? How did the Mission prove beneficial for the women?