Coming of Age in Nineteenth-Century India : The Girl-Child and the Art of Playfulness

In this engaging and eloquent history, Ruby Lal traces the becoming of nineteenth-century Indian women through a critique of narratives of linear transition from girlhood to womanhood. In the north Indian patriarchal environment, women's lives were dominated by the expectations of the male universal, articulated most clearly in household chores and domestic duties. The author argues that girls and women in the early nineteenth century experienced freedoms, eroticism, adventurousness and playfulness, even within restrictive circumstances. Although women in the colonial world of the later nineteenth century remained agential figures, their activities came to be constrained by more firmly entrenched domestic norms. Lal skillfully marks the subtle and complex alterations in the multifaceted female subject in a variety of nineteenth-century discourses, elaborated in four different sites - forest, school, household, and rooftops. In This Engaging And Eloquent History, Ruby Lal Traces The Coming Of Age Of Nineteenth-century Indian Women Through A Critique Of Narratives Of Linear Transition From Girlhood To Womanhood. In The North Indian Patriarchal Environment, Women's Lives Were Dominated By The Expectations Of The Male Universal, Articulated Most Clearly In Household Chores And Domestic Duties. The Author Argues That Girls And Women In The Early Nineteenth Century Experienced Freedoms, Eroticism, Adventurousness And Playfulness, Even Within Restrictive Circumstances. Although Women In The Colonial World Of The Later Nineteenth Century Continued To Be Agential Figures, Their Activities Came To Be Constrained By More Firmly Entrenched Domestic Norms. Lal Skilfully Marks The Subtle And Complex Alterations In The Multifaceted Female Subject In A Variety Of Nineteenth-century Discourses, Which Are Elaborated In Four Different Sites - Forest, School, Household And Rooftop-- Prelude: Opening The Door -- 1. Texts, Spaces, Histories -- 2. The Woman Of The Forest -- 3. The Woman Of The School -- 4. The Woman Of The Household -- 5. The Woman Of The Rooftops -- A Retrospect: In Pursuit Of Playfulness. Ruby Lal. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 209-217) And Index. Cover Coming of Age in Nineteenth-Century India Title Copyright Contents Photos Maps Acknowledgments Note on Transliteration, Translation and Citations Prelude: Opening the Door AZRA KIDWAI: THE GUIDING POINT “SPACES BECOME YOUR UNIVERSE” “LIVING CREATURES IN MY MIND” “THE (SHORT-LIVED) PLEASURES OF PAISAR” AZRA’S INVITATION 1 Texts, Spaces, Histories THE WOMAN QUESTION IN THE METROPOLIS AND THE COLONY THE DEBATE ON THE GIRL-CHILD/WOMAN THE LONG NINETEENTH CENTURY PLAYFULNESS 2 The Woman of the Forest A PLAYFUL CONTEXT FOREST AND OUTSKIRTS FEMALE FIGURES IN INSHA’S TALE THE FUTURE OF INSHA’S TALE 3 The Woman of the School THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING SCHOOLGIRL TEXTBOOK FOR GIRLS SHIV PRASAD’S KAHANI THETH HINDI MEIN (THE STORY IN PURE HINDI) 4 The Woman of the Household RESUSCITATION OF RESPECTABILITY TEXTS OF REVITALIZATION THE CURRICULUM FOR A GIRL-CHILD’S EDUCATION MODEL WOMEN 5 The Woman of the Rooftops ASHRAF-UN-NISA’S ROOFTOPS ROKEYA’S LADYLAND FATIMA’S FORBIDDEN TERRACE THE EXTENDED WORLD OF THE GIRL-CHILD AND WOMAN A Retrospect: In Pursuit of Playfulness Bibliography Index "In this engaging and eloquent history, Ruby Lal traces the coming of age of nineteenth-century Indian women through a critique of narratives of linear transition from girlhood to womanhood. In the north Indian patriarchal environment, women's lives were dominated by the expectations of the male universal, articulated most clearly in household chores and domestic duties. The author argues that girls and women in the early nineteenth century experienced freedoms, eroticism, adventurousness and playfulness, even within restrictive circumstances. Although women in the colonial world of the later nineteenth century continued to be agential figures, their activities came to be constrained by more firmly entrenched domestic norms. Lal skilfully marks the subtle and complex alterations in the multifaceted female subject in a variety of nineteenth-century discourses, which are elaborated in four different sites - forest, school, household and rooftop"-- Provided by publisher "In this engaging and eloquent history, Ruby Lal traces the coming of age of nineteenth-century Indian women through a critique of narratives of linear transition from girlhood to womanhood. In the north Indian patriarchal environment, women's lives were dominated by the expectations of the male universal, articulated most clearly in household chores and domestic duties. The author argues that girls and women in the early nineteenth century experienced freedoms, eroticism, adventurousness and playfulness, even within restrictive circumstances. Although women in the colonial world of the later nineteenth century continued to be agential figures, their activities came to be constrained by more firmly entrenched domestic norms. Lal skillfully marks the subtle and complex alterations in the multifaceted female subject in a variety of nineteenth-century discourses, which are elaborated in four different sites - forest, school, household and rooftop"--Provided by publisher "In this engaging and eloquent history, Ruby Lal traces the coming of age of nineteenth-century Indian women through a critique of narratives of linear transition from girlhood to womanhood. In the north Indian patriarchal environment, women's lives were dominated by the expectations of the male universal, articulated most clearly in household chores and domestic duties. The author argues that girls and women in the early nineteenth century experienced freedoms, eroticism, adventurousness and playfulness, even within restrictive circumstances. Although women in the colonial world of the later nineteenth century continued to be agential figures, their activities came to be constrained by more firmly entrenched domestic norms. Lal skilfully marks the subtle and complex alterations in the multifaceted female subject in a variety of nineteenth-century discourses, which are elaborated in four different sites - forest, school, household and rooftop"-- Résumé de l'éditeur