Great!
Here’s the same simple answer with a few key quotes and examples added from Stri
Purush Tulana. I’ve kept it clear and exam-friendly so you can easily remember and write it:
Tarabai Shinde and Her Contribution to Women’s Rights
Tarabai Shinde was an important feminist writer and reformer from Maharashtra, born in 1850.
She belonged to the Satyashodhak Samaj, a group led by Jyotirao Phule to fight caste and
gender injustice. Her famous book Stri Purush Tulana (A Comparison Between Women and
Men), written in 1882, is considered the first feminist text in modern India.
Tarabai wrote this book after reading about a poor Brahmin widow, Vijayalakshmi, who was
punished for killing her newborn child. Tarabai felt society unfairly blamed women but never
held men or the system responsible.
Main Ideas in Stri Purush Tulana:
1. Criticism of Patriarchy:
Tarabai showed how men enjoyed freedom while women faced strict control. She wrote:
“Are men the only ones who have the right to education? Are women not
human beings too?”
She questioned why men could break rules but women were punished for
the same acts.
2. Questioning Religion and Traditions:
She challenged religious laws that kept women under control. She asked:
“Is this justice? That one half of the human race should oppress the
other?”
Tarabai argued that these rules were made by men to protect their power,
not by God.
3. Women’s Suffering:
She described women’s pain from child marriage, denial of education, widowhood,
and domestic violence. She gave examples of how widows were treated worse than
criminals.
4. Call for Equality:
Tarabai believed women were not born inferior but were made inferior by social rules.
She wrote:
“If women are weak, it is because you have denied them the chance to
become strong.”
She demanded equal rights and education for women.
5. Strong Language:
Tarabai used bold and emotional words. She attacked male hypocrisy directly, saying:
“You men! You are the real sinners, yet you blame women for every evil!”
Why Her Work Was Ahead of Its Time:
• During the 19th century, very few women dared to speak against religion, caste, and
patriarchy. Tarabai’s bold questioning of male dominance was revolutionary.
• She connected gender and caste oppression, showing that women from lower castes
suffered even more. This idea of “multiple oppressions” was rare at that time.
• She spoke not only for upper-caste women but also for poor and marginalized women.
Importance of Her Work:
• It was the first feminist critique of patriarchy in India.
• It inspired future feminist and social reform movements.
• It showed that change begins with questioning injustice.
• Today, her work is studied as a foundation for feminist thought in India.
Simple Diagram: Key Ideas in Stri Purush Tulana
Tarabai Shinde
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Criticism of Questioning Women’s
Patriarchy Religion & Suffering
Norms
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Call for Equality
Conclusion:
Tarabai Shinde’s work was ahead of its time, challenging both gender and caste
discrimination. Her powerful writing made people think about fairness, equality, and justice for
women. She remains a pioneer of feminism in India and her ideas are still important today.
