Shadow Lives: Writings on Widowhood

U. Chakravarti & P. Gill

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Price: $12.74

ISBN : 9788186706404
Paper Back
Publisher : Zubaan . 2001 .

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This volume documents the focus on the widows, regarded as the dark half of womankind in tradition, the structural counterpart of the sumangali or the auspicious married woman, and to provide an archive on widowhood.

The archive comprises prescriptions, injunctions, laws and other accounts dating back to the 5th century BC. With the emergence of the women′s movement in the last quarter of the 20th century, the terms of analysis have changed and feminist inspired scholarship has raised new questions.

In this anthology the widow comes across not just as a passive ′pitiable′ object, oppressed, victimised and patronised but as an active resisting survivor - it is the last image that stays with the reader.

Uma Chakravarti has taught History for many years at Miranda House, Delhi University. Among her published works are: 'Rewriting History: The Life and Times of Pandita Ramabai', 'Social Dimensions of Early Buddhism', 'The Delhi Riots: Three Days in the Life of a Nation' (co-authored with Nandita Haksar) and 'From Myths to Markets: Essays on Gender' (co-edited with Kumkum Sangari.)

Preeti Gill is an editor with Zubaan and has researched and scripted three documentaries on India's North East.