Give a brief life sketch of Laxmi Lakra
Laxmi Lakra belongs to a poor tribal family in Jharkhand- She studied in a government school. She studied hard and did well and then went on to get a diploma in electronics. She then took the railway board exam and passed it on her first attempt. She became the first woman engine driver for Northern Railways. In this way she broke stereotype that engine drivers could be men only. She says "I have challenges and the moment somebody says it is not for girls. I make sure I go ahead and do it". Laxmi has had to do this several times in her life when she wanted to take electronics, when she rode motorcycles at the polytechnics and when she decided to become an engine driver.
What changes came to be seen with the emergence of new ideas about education and learning in the 19th century?
"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.
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?