Girijabai Madhav Kelkar (Marathi: गिरिजाबाई माधव केळकर) (1886–1980) was a feminist and writer from India.[1] The performance of her play led to many debates about women's rights and the concept of gender roles.[2] She was president of 23rd Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan (All-India Marathi Theatre Meet) of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad held in 1928 at Pune.[citation needed]
Girijabai Madhav Kelkar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1886 |
| Died | 1980 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Feminist and writer |
She was sister-in-law of Narasimha Chintaman Kelkar. She married into a family of illustrious Marathi literary figures. She was encouraged by her husband to pursue Marathi literature as a profession, and thus fulfill her aspirations. She was a prolific writer who promoted Marathi language and literature. She started Bhagini Mandal, a women's organisation in Jalgaon. She was the president of the All India Hindu Mahila Parishad in 1935.[1]
Her works include Purushanche Band [Men's Rebellion] and Striyanche Swarga [Women's Paradise]. Padma Anagol describes her views on women's oppression as complex, which found themselves expressed in her works. According to her, the play Purushanche Banda was written to "counteract the effects of vilification of Indian women" by Khadilkar's play Striyancha Band [Women's Rebellion].[1] The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature describes her work as inspired by Apte. Her work describes "women's suffering in the frame work of family life, moderately protesting against social injustice".[3] She strongly identified herself with the traditional Hindu notions of femininity, with a mystified role as spouse and mother, asking for trivial concessions.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c Padma Anagol (2005). The emergence of feminism in India, 1850-1920. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7546-3411-9.
- ^ Ghosh, Anindita (2 September 2008). "Behind the Veil: Resistance, Women and the Everyday in Colonial South Asia" (PDF). In-Spire Journal of Law, Politics and Societies. (Vol. 4, No. 2 – 2010). Chellammal Vaidyanathan University of Miami, Coral Gables USA: 233. ISBN 978-0230553446. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ Mohan Lal (1 January 2006). The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature (Volume Five (Sasay To Zorgot). Sahitya Akademi. p. 4058. ISBN 978-81-260-1221-3. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ Sisir Kumar Das (1995). History of Indian Literature: .1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy. Sahitya Akademi. p. 347. ISBN 978-81-7201-798-9.