Paper: Activist Feminist Movement in India of the
1970s:
A Study of Stree Sangharsh, Forum against Oppression of Women, Vimochana, and Saheli
A Study of Stree Sangharsh, Forum against Oppression of Women, Vimochana, and Saheli
Abstract
The present paper deals with feminist historiography
that attempts to showcase the feminine genius in the pioneering work of post
1970s women/feminist organizations, specifically focusing on Stri Sangharsh
(New Delhi), Forum Against Oppression of Women (Maharashtra), Vimochana (Bangalore),
and Saheli (New Delhi), through their audacious campaigns against myriad forms
of sexual violence and state mandated violence against women along with women’s
rights. Indian women adopted the mechanism of “gendered resistance” against the
vilified society in various anti-patriarchal agitations, like anti-alcohol and
anti-price rise movements, campaigns against dowry, anti-rape and custodial
rape protests, agitation against Muslim women’s bill, anti-sati campaign and so
on. The paper also purports to interrogate various strategies used by women’s
organizations ranging from marching protest, legislative debate to using street
theatre as part of consciousness raising agenda. We delve deep into the
achievements of the feminist organizations wherein the feminist motto of
“personal is political” is taken up to curb gender violence by way of legal
amendments and promoting women’s empowerment that redefined women’s movement in
India. Analyzing activist feminist movements juxtaposed with theorizations, the
paper concludes with the Indian feminists’/activists’ attempt to create feminist
solidarity of bhaginivarg
(sisterhood) as posited by Padma Anagol, which resounds bell hooks’ idea of
sisterhood.
Tanima Kumari, Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, completed M.A. (English) from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Her areas of specialization are Gender Studies, African-American Poetry, Indian English Poetry, Literary Theory and Postcolonial Studies.
