Question

List one reason why learning the alphabet was so important to women like Rashsundari Devi, Ramabai and Rokeya?
A) Achieve their goals only by education.
B) Impact on society by writing their ideas.
C) Both A and B.
D) None of the above.

Answer 1

Hint: The First phase of the Feminist Movement was pioneered by several strong women activists and reformers during the late 19th century, their prime cause and demand being equality in education. Learning to read and write at a time where women were punished harshly for educating themselves was an expression for striving for freedom from such oppression.

Complete answer:
Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) In a period where people genuinely believed that an educated woman brings bad luck to her husband and becomes a widow, the author of the first-ever Bengali text written by a woman, Rashsundari Devi initially learnt the alphabets to read the Hindu scriptures herself. As a way to keep women from being “contaminated” by reformist ideas outside their religious-economic group, Muslim women were denied education in English and Bengali. However, her eldest brother and husband secretly taught her these languages at home and encouraged her to write as they believed the education of women to be the only cure to the ills of society. The first woman scholar, Pandita Ramabai gave lectures on women’s emancipation around India established one of the country’s first schools and shelter homes to support the widows. Education proved to be the catalyst in achieving their dreams and goals.
Hence this statement is true.

Option B) Rashsundari Devi’s ‘Amar Jiban’ was the first autobiography written in Bengali and recounted the ordinary life of an Indian woman and her daily struggles in 19th-century society. The book highlighted a woman’s emotions and raised awareness about the issues of inequality and injustice. ‘The High Caste Hindu Woman’ by Pandita Ramabai brought to light social evils of the time such as child marriage, the plight of child widows and the oppression of women in British India. Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s feminist utopian story ’Sultana’s Dream’ called out the patriarchy and brought attention to the shunning of women from the sciences. These books gave new momentum to women’s rights movements across different periods of time and have been lauded globally.
Hence this statement is true.

Option C) Since both statements are true, the correct answer is Both A and B.

Option D) This option is incorrect as one of the options above is the correct answer.

Thus the correct answer is Option C- Both A and B.

Note: These legendary writer-activist’s leadership transformed the lives of thousands of people in their region and beyond. They were also involved in civil affairs and worked tirelessly to achieve a gender-equal society. Schools and shelter homes established by these women provided support and livelihood to many women through means of education and self-dependence.