Feminist political consciousness in colonial Bengal

Western concept of modernity is closely related to the emergence of modern feminism in India. Its interaction with nationalism gave an additional dimension to it. In this rollercoaster ride nationalism played a dual role for women at the same time, both progressive and regressive. On the one hand it was instrumental in bringing women in public sphere and on the other, threat perception of colonial male prohibited the question of autonomy for women. Women’s question very often was subsumed under larger nationalist agenda. Social ridicule, harassment and ostracism were the hurdles our foremothers had to cross to attain the level of political consciousness they did. While first phase of colonial rule found empathetic reformers for women in the end women had to forge their own fight for their rights.