Reform in the nineteenth century : efforts to modernize women's roles Education for women The emergence of women's organizations The movement for women's rights Women in the nationalist movement Women's work in colonial India A time of transition Women in independent India

In a sympathetic and comprehensive study of Indian women, Geraldine Forbes considers their recent history from the nineteenth century under colonial rule, to the twentieth century after Independence. The author begins with the reform movement, which was established by men to educate women, and demonstrates how education changed their lives and enabled them to take part in public life. Through the women's own accounts of their lives and activities, she documents the formation of their organizations, their participation in the struggle for freedom, their role in the colonial economy and the development of the women's movement in India since 1947. By relying on first-hand accounts, the author has been able to compile an immediate and accessible record of the achievements of Indian women over the last two centuries which will be of interest not only to students of South Asia, but to anyone concerned with women and their history.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 255-281) and index.