Samyukta: A Journal of Gender and Culture

Contours of Change: An Empirical Review of Feminism in Contemporary India

2026-07-02T08:12:12+00:00

This paper provides an empirical review of feminism in India, focusing on its diverse trajectories, evolving discourses, and intersectional challenges. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies, field-based research, and feminist scholarship from the past two decades, the review interrogates the relationship between feminist praxis and broader social structures, including caste, religion, class, and region. It critically examines key sites of feminist activism—such as legal reform, education, digital platforms, and grassroots mobilization—while highlighting tensions between liberal, Dalit, Adivasi, queer, and Islamic feminist frameworks. The analysis foregrounds the experiences and epistemologies of subaltern women and gender minorities to challenge hegemonic constructions of Indian feminism rooted in urban, upper-caste, and English-speaking milieus. Additionally, the review evaluates empirical contributions to debates on gender-based violence, labor rights, and political representation. Despite gains, the evidence reveals persistent patriarchal control within families, workplaces, and state institutions. The review concludes with a call for decolonial, coalition-based feminist praxis that prioritizes intersectionality, community-led research, and policy engagement rooted in local realities.

Architecture and Cultural Identity in Indian Cinema: A Case Study of 2 States

2026-07-02T08:45:04+00:00

This paper explores the architectural representation of cultural and regional identities as portrayed in the film "2 States." Through a detailed visual and contextual analysis of seven key locations—the IIM Ahmedabad campus, the protagonists’ residential spaces, their workplaces, and their wedding venues —the study examines how architectural styles embody the socio-cultural dichotomies between North and South India. Drawing from concepts of modernism and brutalism alongside traditional Dravidian temple architecture, the research investigates the spatial narratives that articulate identity, tradition, and modernity within cinematic space. Employing qualitative methods, including secondary literature review and critical visual analysis, the paper elucidates how architecture functions as both a backdrop and a narrative device, reflecting and reinforcing cultural contrasts. The findings underscore the role of architecture in cinematic storytelling, revealing an intricate dialogue between built form and cultural expression in contemporary Indian cinema.

Inscribing the Sacred upon the Sinful: A Study of Piro’s Autobiographical Verses

2026-07-02T09:01:25+00:00

The paper explores the manner, in which Piro, a prostitute from nineteenth century Lahore, and her autobiographical verses titled 160 Kafiyan¹, interrupt the metanarrative of pure and uncorrupted Indian womanhood in colonial India and thus offer an alternative revisionist historiography to the nationalist history which instead modelled its anti-imperial ideology on the preservation of the private, inner sphere of the home with the model Indian chaste woman as its emblem. Piro, self-confessedly a prostitute from Heeramandi, and a Muslim, came to live in the ‘Sikh’ Gulabdasi sect situated in Chathiawala, after a chance encounter with its charismatic, spiritual leader, Guru Gulab Das. This daring step from a courtesan to a consort of the guru makes her the target of the upholders of Islamic orthodoxy, and she is charged of apostasy. Her manuscript, a tattered book preserved in digitized form in a university archive in Punjab, evokes Bhakti imagery through which Piro taps into its radical potentialities, but simultaneously relies on social conformity as she emphasizes her identity as Guru Gulabdas’ consort as well. Her vehement assertion of her dual identities of a courtesan and a consort interrupts the strictly compartmentalized binary categorization of the public woman and the housewife.

Realising Gender Transformative Potential of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): An Interplay of Reproductive, Financial and Digital Autonomy

2026-07-10T07:13:41+00:00

India’s Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a conditional cash transfer (CCT) scheme aimed at improving maternal and child health by providing financial support to pregnant and lactating women. Despite its potential to empower beneficiaries, PMMVY’s impact on women’s autonomy remains underexplored. This paper aims to bridge the knowledge gap by a) identifying factors influencing the utilization of PMMVY from the perspectives of grassroots-level workers implementing and managing the schemes, policymakers, community leaders, and beneficiaries and b) analysing how it can achieve gender-transformative outcomes.

Gandhi on Women: A Theoretical and Critical Analysis

2026-07-02T09:21:27+00:00

The role of women in India’s nationalist movement has been a subject of extensive debate, with Mahatma Gandhi occupying a central place in shaping their public participation and social visibility. This study critically examines Gandhi’s conceptualization of women by analyzing his writings, speeches, and constructive programs, alongside feminist and postcolonial interpretations. Gandhi rejected regressive practices such as purdah, dowry, and child marriage, and positioned women as agents of moral renewal, social reform, and political struggle. His mobilization during the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India movements transformed women from passive dependents into active citizens, enabling unprecedented mass participation across classes and regions. At the same time, Gandhi’s framework relied heavily on essentialist notions of femininity, valorizing sacrifice, purity, and selflessness, thereby reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes and limiting women’s autonomy. This paradox—empowerment coupled with constraint—has generated significant scholarly debate. Drawing on feminist and postcolonial critiques, the paper argues that Gandhi emerges as a transitional figure whose philosophy opened new avenues for women but also reinscribed cultural expectations. The discussion highlights the continuing relevance of Gandhi’s ideas for contemporary struggles over gender equality, while emphasizing the need for critical reinterpretation to address structural inequalities and intersectional feminist concerns in the twenty-first century.

Community Childcare Models and Their Impact on Women's Work Participation in Low-Income Urban Settings

2026-07-04T09:54:58+00:00

Women in low-income urban settlements face a dual burden: economic necessity to engage in income-generating work and the persistent responsibility of unpaid childcare. The absence of formal, affordable, and reliable childcare services restricts women’s participation in labor markets, perpetuating cycles of poverty and social marginalization. Community-based childcare initiatives—often organized by local NGOs, cooperatives, or community collectives—offer structured, safe, and culturally appropriate spaces for children, enabling women to pursue economic activities. This study examines the design, implementation, and impact of community childcare programs in three slum settlements of Kolkata, India. Using qualitative methods, including 50 semi-structured interviews with women, 25 interviews with caregivers, and ethnographic observation of childcare centers, the study explores outcomes related to women’s work participation, household income, child development, and community engagement. Findings indicate that access to community childcare significantly improves women’s labor participation, diversifies employment options, stabilizes household income, enhances child safety and early learning outcomes, and strengthens social cohesion within communities. Challenges include funding limitations, caregiver training, infrastructure constraints, and long-term sustainability. The study emphasizes the need for policy integration, public-private partnerships, and gender-sensitive approaches to expand access to quality childcare in low-income urban environments.

Rising Above the Common: Remarkable Women of Murshidabad’s Royal Court

2026-07-04T10:06:44+00:00

The analysis of history that highlights the journey of Indian women's emancipation to empowerment, from ancient to modern age, is essential to understanding the legacy of women's status and their rights. In this perspective, it would be justified to have historical knowledge about the rights and position of the royal ladies of Murshidabad, as it was one of the most vibrant political centers of India during the 18th century. Generally, women of Muslim royal families did not have the right to move or act out freely. However, here in Murshidabad court, some women exceptionally enjoyed greater social mobility and even actively participated in public life. Sometime, they exercised profound diplomatic influences on the Nawabi politics and administration. Hence, this study takes as understanding the royal women's extraordinary activities within the traditional ambit of late medieval patriarchal society. The article is highlighting the dynamic role of several distinguished royal ladies in Murshidabad Court and analyzes their status quo, providing insight into the extent of elite Muslim women's empowerment in early modern Bengal.

Women Higher Education in Telangana

2026-07-06T09:42:35+00:00

Women’s higher education in Telangana has undergone notable development in recent years, driven by government initiatives, socio-economic reforms, and evolving societal norms. Various state-sponsored schemes like the Fee Reimbursement Program and residential degree colleges for women have played a crucial role in increasing access to higher education, particularly for marginalized and rural communities. Women’s participation has grown significantly in fields such as the arts, sciences, and management, though challenges remain in areas like STEM education, safety, and infrastructure. Socio-cultural barriers, including early marriage and economic constraints, continue to restrict educational access for many women, especially in rural areas. However, rising trends such as skill-based education, research involvement, and the increasing promotion of female leadership in academia and entrepreneurship provide optimism for future advancements. This abstract reviews the current landscape of women’s higher education in Telangana, highlighting key policies, challenges, and the potential for further growth, particularly in the fields of STEM and leadership.

Keywords: Access to Education, Government Initiatives, Socio-cultural Barriers, STEM Education, Skill Development, Educational Reforms, Gender Equity, Rural Education

Status of Women in Higher Education in Nagaland

2026-07-04T10:52:58+00:00

Women constitute almost half of the total population and play a substantial part not only in upbringing a child but also in the overall development of a country. For the progress of any nation, the higher education of women is important as it is through higher education that women can be empowered and significantly contribute to the alleviation of poverty, reducing inequality thereby, bridging the gender gaps, leading to a more balanced socio-economic disparity between genders and various social groups. The participation of women in higher education is indispensable for the growth of any country or nation. Depriving them of education would mean depriving half of the population of the right to education, adversely affecting the nation’s economy and hindering its progress and development. Today, women are excelling in every field, and even in higher education, women have made a progressive development both in terms of enrollment and participation. The present study aims to find out the status of women in higher education in Nagaland with regard to the number of teachers, students enrollment, Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR), academic performance, Gender Parity Index (GPI), and Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER).

Women in Early Modern Bengal: Some Perspectives on Social and Gender Identity from the Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries

2026-07-02T07:01:25+00:00

This work examines the social and gender identities of women in early modern Bengal, spanning from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The first major perspective begins with a discussion of women in the domestic sphere, revealing the pattern of restrictions and liberties that women experienced within their households. The second important aspect highlights the gender relations of women within social and domestic boundaries. It also defines women-centric performances and customs, in which women either played positive gender roles or barely survived under exploitative social norms. Another significant emphasis of this work is on the emergence of Goddess faith in the mid-seventeenth century, which transformed the socio-religious identity of women in early modern Bengal compared to preceding centuries. It has been generalised that, although women gained some prominence after the rise of the Goddess faith, they still had to abide by social norms in both private and public spheres.

Reverberations of Caste & Gender in Select Novels of Contemporary Literature

2026-07-04T11:10:03+00:00

This paper attempts a comparative study of the novels Pyre by Perumal Murugan and Sangati by Bama in terms of Caste and Gender Oppression found in rural India. It aims at bringing out the nature of the two extreme ends of an Oppressive society.
Pyre is an insightful narrative to be analysed on the basis of inter- caste marriage and its brutalities in a casteist society. The reverberations of honour killings are echoed in a reverse perspective. Tragic realism is a tool used in analysing this novel. Sangati is a plural narrative focusing on the lives of women in the society and the harsh realities they endure both within their caste, and overarching hierarchical structure of the society. The concept of Double Oppression is highly vital in analysing this text.
This study helps to identify the power structure of a casteist society and the dynamics of realities that are mirrored in fictional narratives, thereby bringing out the similarities and differences found between them in detail. Both the texts can be identified as a form of Protest Literature, that addresses social issues and advocates for a change in the society.

Socio-Economic Status of Tribal Women: A Case Study of Gumla District, Jharkhand

2026-02-21T10:21:21+00:00

The study examines the socio-economic status of tribal women in Gumla district, Jharkhand, using primary data collected from 120 respondents across four villages of Bishunpur block using pre-designed questionnaire by interview method. The research focuses on the analysis of various socio-economic indicators such as literacy and education, health and nutrition, employment, income, and access to bank accounts. The findings clearly indicate low literacy levels among tribal women, with none of the respondents having completed a graduate level education. Although most women have a normal BMI, health awareness and access to medical facilities are limited. Employment is largely confined to agriculture and informal sectors, resulting in low-income levels. And although most of the respondents have bank accounts, active usage and financial literacy remain moderate. The study highlights the persistent socio-economic inequalities faced by tribal women and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions in education, healthcare, skill development, and financial inclusion.

Earth and Equality: Ecofeminist Perspectives from the Central Himalayas of Uttarakhand

2026-07-06T09:57:41+00:00

Feminism is an ideological movement that aims to respect women's experiences, identities, knowledge, and powers and to make all women realise their full rights, which are gradually being assimilated even among the women of the third world. The new ideolical term eco-feminism is an insight that emerged in the 1970-1980 s in European countries, and is emerging all over the world as an ideological movement, as a powerful movement taking nature and the exploitation of women in parallel. Ecofeminism is an ecological critique of feminism. It opposes the patriarchal system that is based on the exploitation of women and the environment. It is a response to all the ideological dualities of nature being subservient to culture and woman being subservient to men. This paper is an attempt to explore the co-relationships, oppression and ideological responses of women's ecology in the central Himalayas, especially in Uttarakhand, and also to explore new dimensions of Eco feminine.

Role of Sexism and Gender Stereotyping on Male Default Language Use.

2026-04-19T14:50:08+00:00

Gender bias in default language—utilizing masculine generic words for persons whose sex is unknown—is an implicit cue to long-standing and deeply held views about gender roles. Past research has demonstrated that male generics routinely elicit mental images of men and support androcentric perspectives regardless of language used. This study investigated whether acceptance of gender stereotypes, hostile sexism, and benevolent sexism predicted use of masculine generic words by Indian youth. A sample of cross-sectional subjects completed a pronoun-choice task, the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), and the Gender Stereotype Scale; each measure was reliable. The correlations found that both increased levels of acceptance of gender stereotypes and benevolent sexism correlated with increased reliance on male generics; however, the correlation with hostile sexism was lessened. The regression results indicated that acceptance of gender stereotypes and benevolent sexism were the two most significant predictors of the use of masculine generics; furthermore, males relied upon masculine generics more so than did females. These results demonstrate the manner in which even subtle sexist orientations can foster and continue gender biased language, and therefore, there is a clear need for gender inclusivity and interventions.

A Review of Environmental Humanities in Folktales: Theory and Practice

2026-07-06T10:15:35+00:00

Mary Vidya Porselvi's Environmental Humanities in Folktales: Theory and Practice “invites you to take a seat in the giant circle to revisit folktales and reweave them to nourish and nurture… the environmental imagination for a better future…” in the author’s own words. Among the few handful of names that have made it to the Indian ecocritical stage - Nirmal Selvamony, Pramod K. Nayar, Swarnalatha Rangarajan and others, Mary Vidya Porselvi’s book is a timely and insightful contribution to the growing field. The unfolding of ‘tinai’ by Nirmal Selvamony has facilitated several Indian scholars to research the ecocritical space from their own contexts of space, culture and meaning-making emerging from the rich tapestry of the literary traditions they affiliate themselves to. Porselvi’s ecofemiotics - a unique blend of theoretical frameworks, including ecofeminism, semiotics, and the Tamil concept of Akam, to analyse folktales as "Gaia Care Narratives" is innovative and the in-depth analysis of various folktales worldwide makes this book a valuable resource for scholars and students alike. Ecofemiotics emphasises the spirit of interconnectedness, interdependence, and intrinsic value of life. The concept of Ecofemiotics can be paralleled to Erin James’ ‘econarratology’ which is elaborated in her work, In The Storyworld Accord. Econarratology and Postcolonial Narrative (2015). James speaks of the concept in the context of postcolonial narratives, where there is an emphasis of narratological elements which are valuable in the depiction of the environment around us, “a theory of narrative that foregrounds the interplay between narrative form and the environmental imagination.” (Caracciolo 174) There is an intersectionality involved in the concept, where there is an interconnectedness between narratology, postcolonialism and ecocritical elements. Ecofemiotics embodies intersectionality as well, created by the affinity of ecofeminism, semiotics and the Akam concept. However, while econarratology hopes to enquire into the intricate quality of narratives and their structures, Porselvi’s ecofemiotics largely emphasises the act of narrating and storytelling as gateways into in-depth knowledge of ecofeminist interpretations while bridging it with the Tamil Akam literature, which explores the inner workings of the heart and mind. The study within this book throws light upon the human obligation of storytelling as a means to show love and care for the environment. This positions storytelling as an ethical and ecological act. Similarly, her emphasis on interconnectedness and relationality aligns with Timothy Morton’s concept of “ecological thought” in The Ecological Thought (2010), which also seeks to dissolve the binaries between humans and the more-than-human world. However, unlike Morton’s often abstract, theoretical approach, Porselvi’s work is rooted in concrete cultural traditions, giving it a grounded and accessible dimension.

Autobiography as Theory: A Dalit Woman from a Brahmin’s Womb

2026-07-06T10:24:49+00:00

Autobiography is not a mere narrative but an act of survival, resistance, and theorization. Dalit feminism has positioned autobiographies by Dalit women as a strong epistemological intervention. Dalit women lived narratives, therefore, have the potential to expose everyday caste and Brahminical patriarchy that interplay in their lives. In this context, this article looks into my personal narratives as a daughter to an inter-caste couple who has navigated spaces of class privilege, caste marginality, and gendered space. While it's not a closure but a beginning to different scholarships or theories that can emerge from the lived experiences, the article surely exists as a piece of theoretical intervention and reflection on my personal experience. When narratives become theories, we emancipate epistemologically.

General

2026-06-30T14:48:05+00:00