The Library Of The Sabarmati Ashram - 1058 Words

While working in the archives of the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, I came across a fascinating letter to MK Gandhi sent by 11 young women of Calcutta. The letter was undated, but it appeared to have been written in January, 1939. It was addressed to â€Å"Most revered Mahatmaji†, and was signed individually by the 11 women, all Hindus by their names. The letter was written in protest against an essay written by Gandhi for his journal, Harijan. Gandhi’s article, said these women, was â€Å"not very inspiring†, since it seemed to â€Å"put the whole slur upon the injured female who suffers most due to the malevolent social custom†. The letter (to whose arguments I shall presently return) intrigued me, so I set off to locate the original article by Gandhi†¦show more content†¦Gratuitous attack In between acknowledging the problem and offering solutions, Gandhi spoilt his case by launching an unprovoked attack on the dress code of the modern woman. For all the evil that males did, he remarked, â€Å"I have a fear that the modern girl loves to be Juliet to half a dozen Romeos. She loves adventure. My correspondent seems to represent the unusual type. The modern girl dresses not to protect herself from wind, rain and sun but to attract attention. She improves upon nature by painting herself and looking extraordinary. The non-violent way is not for such girls.† It was to this gratuitous advice, this patriarchal preconception of how women must dress, that the young women of Bengal responded. â€Å"Some may find modern girls’ dresses and deportments a bit different than they wish them to be,† said these women to Gandhi, â€Å"but to brand them as exhibitionistic generally is a positive insult to her sex as a whole. Strength of character and chaste behaviour are necessary not only for modern girls but for men as well. There may be a few girls playing Juliets to a dozen Romeos. But such cases presuppose the existence of half a dozen Romeos, moving around the streets in quest of a Juliet, thereby pointing out where the proper correction lies.† These 11 young women of Calcutta spiritedly defended the woman’s right toShow MoreRelatedSabarmati Ashram1471 Words   |  6 PagesSabarmati Ashram is located in the Ahmedabad at the bank of River Sabarmati. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. This ashram is now a national monument established by the Government of India due to its significance for the Indian independence movement in the form of the Dandi March in 1930. The ashram was originally established at the Kocharab Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai on 25 May 1915. 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It is to this obscureRead MoreOrganisation Study at Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Ltd11436 Words   |  46 Pagesas the press does. The immediate effect of the printing press was to multiply the output and cut the cost of books. If thus made information available to a much larger segment of population who were of course eager of information of any variety. Libraries could now store greater quantities of information at much lower coast. The printing press certainly initiated an â€Å"An information revolution† on par with internet today. Printing could and did spread new ideas quickly and with greater impact. PrintingRead MoreBusiness Study At Mathrubhumi Printing And Publishing Company Ltd9893 Words   |  40 Pagesand Saturday). 21st October, 1924 The motto Truth Equality Freedom was initially distributed on the masthead. 6th April, 1930 Mathrubhumi turned into a Daily. 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