Conflux Journal of Education ISSN 2320-9305 Volume 1, Issue 1, June 2013 1

COGNITIVE DISCOURSES Volume 4, Issue 6, May 2017 International Multidisciplinary Journal pISSN 2321-1075 eISSN 2347-5692

SHANTA DEVI-SITA DEVI AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN’S EDUCATION IN 20TH CENTURY BENGAL Prarthita Biswas1 Abstract The present study tries to investigate the cultural as well as educational development of women of the 20th Century Bengali society which has been observed in the writings of Shanta Devi and Sita Devi concerning women and to examine in details about women's literary works during that time.It would be fruitful to historically review the short stories as well as the novels of both Shanta Devi and Sita Devi to get a critical understanding about the various spheres they touched many of which are still being debated till date. The study may not be able to settle the debates going on for centuries about women emancipation and specially about women's educational development in 20 Century Bengal but will sincerely attempt to help scholars think in a more practical and objective manner. Keywords: Women education, Emancipation. INTRODUCTION Santa Devi(1894-1988) and Sita Devi(1895-1974) are daughters of Sri Ramananda Chattopadhyay, the well known publicist, who launched “Prabasi Patrika” a Bengali monthly journal in the year 1901.He also edited "The Modern Review", an English one. Both are very influential, the latter are being the most widely read of all the Indian monthlies.Sri Chatterjee’s whole life has been one of battle and political journalism. Yet the readers of Santa Devi and Sita Devi 's stories will he struck by the way they avoid politics. The centre of interest has shifted inward, to Hindu social life. This change of interest is a natural development from Ramananda Chattopadhyay's effort and completes it. They basically got their influence from their father Ramananda Babu whose name is mentionworthy while discussing the works of the two sisters because it is their father who laid down the foundation of their thinking and their works. It is very much essential as well as interesting to know about Sri Chatterjee, the father of Santa Devi- Sita Devi before further discussion of the latter’s life and works. Ramananda Babu is one of those Indians who cherished the name of Rammohan Roy. Amidst the insolent abuse recently flung at that name, as standing for the introduction of a denationalizing foreign influence, he has proclaimed its outstanding greatness. Like Rammohan Roy, he has especially made the cause for women his own, and has never let pass any reasonable opportunity of protest against wrongs inflicted by society. No man living has a more flaming anger at cruelty than Ramananda Chattopadhyay. The latest negro-burning in Georgia and the latest instance of a child-wife in Bengal committing suicide appear in his magazines, no less than the treatment of Indians in East Africa or Fiji, and go out into the bazaars and homes of all . He also carried his convictions into action in his own family. Santa Devi and Sita Devi were educated at home in the usual subjects, including English, and then sent to , Calcutta. From the earliest days their father gave them the fullest intellectual freedom never seeking to censor their reading.

2 1 Research Scholar, Dept. Of Education, University of Kalyani, Nadia, , India & Asst.Prof.,Pailan

College Of Education, Bengal Pailan Park, Joka, . Page

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COGNITIVE DISCOURSES International Multidisciplinary Journal Volume 4, Issue 6, May 2017 pISSN 2321-1075 eISSN 2347-5692

Sprung from a family of Sanskrit professors and priests, his own generation, his cousins and brothers, Santa and Sita Devi first broke through their tradition of aloofness, and learned English. The father's whole life has been one of battle and political journalism. Yet the reader of his daughters' stories will be struck by the way they avoid politics. The centre of interest has shifted inward, to Hindu social life. This change of interest is a natural development from the father's effort, and completes it. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The attempt of this study is not reiterate what other scholars have written, the researcher’s sincere attempt would be to examine the cultural values of the society during that time as well as to examine in details about the writings of Sita Devi and Shanta Devi as well. The objectives of the study are: 1. To review the works of Sita Devi - Shanta Devi’s with historical perspective. 2. To analyse the educational development of women through their stories. 3. To appraise their contribution towards societal transformation in the 20th century. RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. What were the women’s literary works during 20th century Bengal with special reference to Shanta Devi and Sita Devi’s works? 2. What was the nature of women’s educational development in the 20th Century Bengali society? 3. What are the notable developments in women education? DELIMITING THE STUDY Data are collected from the reports of those who witnessed or participated in events related to this topic and the available literature produced by Santa Devi and Sita Devi. The data produced have to be subjected to careful analysis which may be false or misleading. So, the work may be left to make its own comparisons, to see the resemblances and differences in their respective contributions. EARLY LIFE –EDUCATION-WRITINGS OF SHANTA DEVI AND SITA DEVI Santa Devi and Sita Devi were educated at home in the usual subjects, including English, and then sent to Bethune College, Calcutta. From the earliest days their father gave them the fullest intellectual freedom, never seeking to censor their reading. Both passed the B. A. with great credit, at Calcutta University. In 1912, while still students, they published a volume of stories translated from English, which were immediately popular. They introduced “Brer Rabbit” to Bengali nurseries. They trained themselves by study and translation of George Elliot's work, and of a few stories from the French; they kept in close touch with their own land and its life. Their literary careers have advanced together. In 1917, Sita Devi's first original short story “Light of the Eyes” appeared in Prabasi, her sister's first one Sunanda appearing in the same magazine a month later.

In 1918, they wrote in collaboration a novel, “Udyanlata” (The Garden Creeper) in

English, a serial for Prabasi. This was given over a column in the “Times Literary 3 Supplement”, from the pen of the late Mr. J. D. Anderson, who knew as no Page

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COGNITIVE DISCOURSES Volume 4, Issue 6, May 2017 International Multidisciplinary Journal pISSN 2321-1075 eISSN 2347-5692

other European did. He speaks of the books keen observation, sometimes girlishly amused, sometimes tenderly pitying, never harsh or bitter, which was rendered in a style which is in itself a delight to any competent student of Indian letters. The same writer gave equal praise to Sita Devi's “Cage of Gold”, which appeared first as a Prabasi serial in 1919. It was followed by Santa Devi's serial, “The Eternal” in1920.It is interesting to observe that though they encouraged the education for women, yet they did not suggest that women should compete against men or neglect their domestic duties and responsibilities. All young women characters in Santa Devi and Sita Devi’s work were proficient in household management. It is mention worthy that Santa Devi was also a versatile painter and specialized painting in water colours. She was a disciple of the well-known artists, Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose. Sita Devi has published in “The Modern Review” translations by herself of her own and her sister's stories. PROMINENT WOMEN WRITERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY In the very modern period Ashapurna Devi (who has a trilogy) and Mahasweta Devi were awarded Akademi prizes. Her Aranyer Adhikar - Rights over the forest, is a novel about the Santali rebels. Hazar Curasir Ma - Mother of the prisoner No 1084, is a political novel. The whole novel states the affairs of a single day. Ashapurna was a prolific authoress, while Mahasweta has been writing on how Ashapurna's literary world war of middle class families treads on the political ideas. Mention should also be made of Roquia Khatun and Begum Sufia Kamal . Begum Roquia was an inspiring figure who contributed much to the struggle to liberate women from the bondage of social malaises. Her life can be seen in the context of other social reformers within what was then India. To raise popular consciousness, especially among women, she wrote a number of articles, stories and novels, mostly in Bengali.Here mention should be made of “Pipasa”(Thirst in the year 1902) and Boligarto , a short story which depicts the liberation of women . Here mention must be made of Sufia Kamal’s who was Bangladeshi poet, freedom fighter, feminist and political activist. Kamal was an influential cultural icon in the Bengali nationalist movement of the 1950s and 60s and an important civil society leader in independent Bangladesh. A short story Shainik Bodhu which she wrote was published in a local paper in 1923.Her literary career took off after her first poetry publication. Her first book of poems, Sanjher Maya (Evening Enchantment), came out in 1938, bearing a foreword from and attracting praise from . Yet Santa Devi and Sita Devi are segregated from the above writers due to their views about the emancipation of women. They always maintained a much different view about women emancipation. Their writings does not represent in any way, “feminism” in the wider form. It will also be noticed further, that their writings portrayed women protagonists and the male characters in their novels (unlike other novels/stories of that era)more than being dominant characters are more practical and have a soft corner towards womenfolk. It may be observed that both Shanta and Sita Devi have portrayed in their writings the sorry plight of the women as well as the man which are depicted in the story “Loyalty”.

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COGNITIVE DISCOURSES International Multidisciplinary Journal Volume 4, Issue 6, May 2017 pISSN 2321-1075 eISSN 2347-5692

THE POSITIVE INFLUENCE OF MEN IN THE LIFE OF SANTA DEVI AND SITA DEVI Ramananda Chatterjee Influence of their Father Ramananda Chatterjee who made the cause for women his own and has never let pass any reasonable opportunity of protest against wrong inflicted by the women in the society.He influence his ideas to his sons and daughters as well. Influence of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore Santa Devi and Sita Devi both lived for a considerable period of time in Santiniketan, a place where thought is as liberal as the wide spaces that surround it. Here they found their fullest powers of expression as nowhere else. It is also noteworthy that they were very much close to Kabiguru and their intellectual development grew stronger under the guidance of the Nobel laureate. He had great affections for them. Rabindranath Tagore treated them as “Ashram Kanya”or “Manas Kanya”. Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose Santa Devi was the disciple of the well known artists Nandalal Bose and Abanindranath Tagore. She got fullest powers of expression and expressed it in her light and shade paintings .The paintings stood for the cause of women emancipation through education in that era. METHODOLOGY The study focuses on socio-cultural dynamics that make up the fabric of Indian society and encapsulates a broad interpretation of ethnography as a research process based on fieldwork using a variety of (mainly qualitative) research techniques . Hence, elements of ethnography have been ‘borrowed’ in the sense that the researcher has carefully connected the observed facts with the specific features of the backdrop against which these facts occur, which are linked to historical and cultural contingencies .Historical approach of Research will be adopted for the purpose of the present study. CONCLUSION The two sisters, Shanta Devi and Sita Devi present a wide culture, and their writings proceed from lives of unfettered freedom of thought. It is interesting to observe that both Santa Devi and Sita Devi favoured opposition or rebellion to the traditional social values: for instance, they depict the character in their story “Sabara Uparay” the character “Urmila” returning to “Samarendra” or in “The Garden Creeper(Uddanlata)” the character “Mukti” running away from her ancestral home to avoid her marriage. The authors tried to convey to their readers their conviction that resistance to the social customs is not only acceptable, but sometimes even desirable in the fight against the social conventions that victimize women. It was Santa Devi and Sita Devi’s agenda to make explicit pleas for reforming the institution of marriage and educating women. However, being influenced by Western / colonial ideals, the education system they promoted was a mixture of both Western and traditional Hindu society. For the present, there is in their work the added interest of seeing Indian life as Indians themselves see it, and of noting how Indian society deals with the problems which are occupying society everywhere, the readjustment of the relations of different classes, and above all, the readjustment of the relations in which the sexes stand to each other. 5 Page

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The present paper has portrayed Santa Devi and Sita Devi as a literary genius who had their own independent style of writing. Their writings portray the intellectual and personal element, their keen vision and the angry contempt which blazes out through their writings. Santa Devi’s stories show a delightful humour with lifelike pictures of manners and person while Sita Devi’s stories have a touch of playful malice. Their writings also portray a sense of social preaching. Both of them have created a different and strong place for themselves through their writings as well as in their educational works which has a positive influence on the society. Their strong writing as well as the fire of personality in their work gives both of their works significance beyond itself, and will make it a matter of deep interest to watch the development and widening of their powers. The amalgamation of traditionalism as well as modernism was depicted in each and every story of Santa Devi and Sita Devi which clearly depicts a new trend of feminist writing during that time. Considering the time period of their writings they introduced a rather unconventional or modern theme. The authors were helping to create a mindset for their readers freeing them from the norms during that period. These writers promoted women’s education and advocated that women should take an active role in every sphere of her life. It is evident from the writings of Santa Devi and Sita Devi that they followed the ideology of nationalism established by an educated, westernized middle class and they carried out their own feminist agenda to change the society. REFERENCES Altekar(1938).The position of women in Hindu Civilization.(1st ed.).New Delhi:Motilal Banarasidass Agrawal, S. P., & Aggarwal, J. C. (1996). Women's education in India: : present status, perspective plan, statistical indicators with a global view. New Delhi: Concept Publ. Company. Banerjea, K. M. (n.d.). A prized essay on native female education (2nd ed.). Calcutta, In: R.C.Lepage and Co.British Library. Beauvoir, S, Borde, C. & Malovany-Chevallier, S. (2010). The Second Sex. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Biswas, A. P. (1996). Development of Education In India (1st ed.). New Delhi, IN: Concept Publishing Company. Bumiller, Elizabeth(1991).May You be the Mother of a Hundred Sons: A Journey Among the Women of India.(1st ed.).NewYork: Fawlett Columbine. Chatterjee, S., Chatterjee, S., & Thompson, E. J. (1922). Tales of Bengal. London: H. Milford, Oxford University Press. Devi,S.&Devi,S(1918). Uddyanlata.Kolkata:Prabasi Karjalaya Karlekar, M. (1991). Voices from within: Early personal narratives of Bengali women. Delhi: Oxford University Press. Marshman, J. C. (1838). Samachar Darpan,February 02,1838. Serampore: Baptist Missionary Society.

Srivastava, G. (2000). Women's higher education in the 19th century. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co. 6 Tharu, S., & Lalita, K. (1995). Women writing in India 600 B. C. to the present. Delhi: Oxford Univ.

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