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INFORMATION 10 USERS This manuscript ha$ bwn mproducod hom the mitrdilm master. UMI films the text dimctly fmm the original or oopy subm~.Thur, some thwis and dissertation copies am in typemiter face, Hile othem may be from any type of cornputer printer. Tho qurlîty of this mpmducüon is deprn&nt upon ai. quility d tho copy rubmi#rd. Broken or indistinct prkit, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bîedthmugh, substanbrd margins, and Hnpmper In the unlikely @venttht the suthor did not Mnd UMI a cornpieta mamiscript and ü~emare missing pages, thesa will bb notd. Al-, if umuthorized copyright material had to be removd, a note will indicade the deletion. Oversize matefiaIr (e.g., mrps, dnwings, chrrtr) am reproduced by secthni the original, baginning 1the uppr Mt-hand corner and c~ntin~ing hmleft to nght in wual sections with srnall wedaps. Photogrsphs Yicludeâ in the original minuscript have reprodwed xerognphicaily in thir W. Higher quality 6' r 9" black ad Mita photognphic prints am availabb for any photognphs of lustrations appmring in thir copy for an addithal chirg.. Contact UMI dindly (o ord.r. Exploring Links Between the Social Refom, Nationalist, and Women' s Movements in lndia BY Jasvinder Sanghera A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research through the Department of Sociology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts at the University of Windsor Windsor, Ontario. Canada 1997 (c) 1997 Jasvinder Sanghera National Library Biiot ue nationale 1 OfCamda du Canah$ uisiihs and Acquisitions et "iBib iogRphic Servi-s services bibliographiques The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, disîri'bute or sel reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic fonnats. la forme de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownetship of the L'auteur consewe la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de ceiieci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. 0-6 12-52479-5 AB STRACT The investigation utilized a historical/comparative methodoloqy to trace connections between three social movements - the Social Reform, Nationalist, and Women's Movements in India. While some researchers (e.g Tarrow (1994); Snow & Benford (1992)) offer the concept of the cultural and master frame to explain linkages between movements , this research went further by probing addi tional elements such as social networks and political career patterns . Connections were evident since al l three were united through the rnaster frame. The social reform movement laid the groundwork for both the nationalist and f eminist movements. However, the impact of the reform and nationalist movement on Indian f eminism was paradoxical . While both social reform and national ism advanced the concerns of women, they also hindered the progress of the feminist movement through the propagation of contradictory roles and images of women. These movements also omitted certain feminist issues and thus many dissatisf ied women mobilized their efforts to raise the status of women. Consequently, the master frame both empowered and limited movements. However, this cultural frame represented but one facet of the link between movements. An analysis of the life histories of women suggested that social networks and political career patterns also played a significant role in further connecting these movements. if f Dedicated to the memory of Jasper... One thinks of ten of whom one would like to thank when the light does f inally pervade the wretched darkness, and now that 1 am finally here, there are so many to whom 1 owe so much. Mum and dad, 1 could never have finished without your support, nagging, and of course, love to guide me. To my sisters and family 1 am grateful for their encouragement and ability to pretend to listen while 1 always rambled on. Tanya, my professor and advisor, 1 could never have finished without your encouragement and patience which was indeed immense when 1 reflect back on the piles of worthless information 1 hoarded and pushed your way. Charlene, your enthusiasm and the twinkle in your eye when you discussed this work with me, always inspired me and xeminded me of the importance of this research. To my friends, Maral, Andrea, Nidhi, Cathy, Rhona and Valencia, 1 must thank you for encouraging me and listening to me ramble on about the progress 1 was not making. Sue, you have always been patient and encouraging. Finally, 1 must thank the library staff at the University of Windsor, particularly the Interlibrary Loan Department for the courteous and helpful service and the prompt handling of my numerous requests. Thank you once again ......... TABLE OF CONTENTS iii DEDICATION TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Significance of Research Social Movements Ferninisrn METHODOLOGY Introduction Historical/Comparative Methodology 15 Present Research Considerations 21 Organizations and Interests Summaries III. LINKAGES BETWEEN THE SOCIAL REFORM 38 MOVEMENT AND THE POSITION OF WOMEN In t xoduc t ion 39 Women* s Status in Pre-Reform India 42 The Influence of Western Ideas 43 Sati 44 Educa t ion 48 The Plight of Widows 59 Marriage Ref orm 62 Purdah 64 Chird Marriage 64 Progress of the Social Reform Movement 66 Class Bias & Ethnic Diversity 68 IV. NATIONALISM AND ITS LINK WITH THE 72 SOCIAL REFOW MOVEMENT Introduction 73 The Rise of Political Activism in India 74 Nationalism Defined 76 Nationalism in India 78 Social Vs. Political Reform 93 Communal Issues 97 The Partition of Bengal The Swadeshi Movement The Home Rule Movement Entry of Gandhi The Prohibition Campaign International Influences Nonviolence Policy THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT ON THE POSITION OF INDIAN WOMEN Introduction Nationalism and Women: A Comparative Perspective The Indian Case The ' New Woman ' Femininity and Motherhood Women's Participation in the Nationalist Movement Gandhi ' s Role Arrest and Imprisonment Nehru's Role Militant Activity Mus 1 im Women Opposition to Women VI. THE INDIAN WOMEN'S MOVEMENT Preconditions Maturity of the Movement International Links Communal Threats to the Women's Movemen t Enf ranchisement and Political Activi ty Class Issues and Other Limitations Further Political Activity and Nationalism Relation to Western Feminism Pos t - Independent Activi ty THE LIFE HISTORIES OF INDIAN WOMEN Early Life Married Life Career Paths VIII. CONCLUSION vii APPENDIX GLOSSARY BIBLXOGRAPHY VITA AUCTORIS Vifi CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION Introduction Women's movements do not occur in a vacuum but correspond to, and to some extent are determined by, the wider social movements of which they form part. The general consciousness of society about itself, its future, its structure and the role of men and women, entails limitations for the women's movement; its goals and its methods of struggle are generally determined by those limits (Jayawardena 1986: 10). Numerous studies have dealt with social movements and the circumstances f rom which they have arisen. While research sugges ts that some movements tend to originate f rom others , few studies have examined this link. Yet it 3s crucial to analyze such linkages since they may be instrumental in shaping the development of some movements. While there is an array of literature documenting women8s movements across the globe, research on the impact of other social movements on the stmggle for women's rights is much more limited. Thus, it is necessary to explore the extent to which women8s rnovements are determined by wider social movements. With respect to the Indian feminist movement Jayawardena (1986: 10) argues that it did not "occur in a vacuumw but was in fact defined or moulded to some extent by other social movements. In other words, women's movements tend to be inspired and restricted by larger social movements. This thesis will explore the influence of the reform and nationalist movements upon Indian f eminism. Wi th respect to nationalism Jayawardena (1986 : 8 5 ) argues that struggles for women's emancipation were an essential and integral part of national resistance movements. The organization of women around their own demands was closely interrelated with the nationalist movements. They rarely organized autonomously, but more usually as wings or subsidiaries of male - dominated nationalist groups. This research will also analyze the link between the social reform movement of the 19 th century and the women' s movement on the one hand, and the quest for Independence on the other. The objectives will be achieved by tracing the lives and career paths of Indian women through an analysis of primary and secondary data sources. Examples include autobiographies, biographies, diaries, memoirs , and an assortment of secondary texts. The nationalist movement will be analyzed from the moment of its conception during the British Raj to the point of Independence in 1947. The emergence of the women's struggle within the Independence movement will also be explored. Although India is very much a land of diversity, the analysis will be confined primarily to the Hindu majority with minor references to other groups such as Muslims and Sikhs. A comprehensive analysis of the affiliation of Indian nationalisrn with that of the women's movement will require an exploration of concepts such as nation, nationalism and feminism/women8s movements. The utilization of metaphors of woman and nation by nationalists and feminists alike, and their impact upon Indian women. This will assist in determining the influence of the one movement on the other.

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