Early Women's Writings in Orissa, 1898-1950

Book excerpt: Focusing on the early literary experiences of women in the east Indian state of Orissa, this volume offers valuable insights into the conditions for these women at a time when the region witnessed the advent of Brahmo Samaj, the campaign for widow remarriage, the legal movement for the abolition of untouchability, the rise of women's education and trade union movements, and the struggle for national independence. The author explores such questions as: What were the features of this body of writing? How did contemporary history, politics, gender and culture impinge on the generation and dissemination of this body of literature? and How did such writing contribute to the making of literary/cultural consciousness in conjunction with and in contrast to developments at the national level?