This book provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of traditional (upper-middle class) Bengali women and their families. Roy presents a thorough analysis of the dynamics of extended family life in West Bengal. She begins with an exploration of the special bonds that develop between father and daughter, then moves on to how schooling and classic literature play a role in developing a young woman's idyllic view of married life. Later she contrasts that ideal with the reality of being a stranger competing with one's mother-in-law for the attentions of one's husband, and how this is tempered with the birth of children, especially sons. Finally, she discusses middle age and the later years, when the children have grown and women seek companionship from their sons or religious personages. In some respects, the dynamics that Roy describes here are probably generally found in any culture with a strong tradition of patrilineal extended families. Other aspects of life, particularly religious life, are more unique to Hindu and Bengali culture. The book was originally written some 30 years ago, and certainly there have been many changes in Bengali culture during this time. But even as a window into Bengali family life of the recent past, it a very interesting and well written study.

A Wonderful book that details a Bengali (India) woman's life from birth to death. An enjoyable and informative read. By interviewing many Bengali women, the author gave amazing detail into what it is like to be a woman in Calcutta, by illuminating the subject's feelings, experiences, rituals and secrets. Manisha Roy also offers an update in the back of the book that chronicals the many changes that have happened since she first published the book some twenty years ago. The book gives a timeless glimpse into the private world of Bengali women. Subject range: Sociology/Women's Studies/Anthropology/Indian Cultural Studies, some photos. Highly reccomended!

This study traces the emergence and development of a Muslim intelligentsia in Bengal and examines the tension between religious and secular perceptions which they experience in their social and political lives. It explores the various factors which have influenced the ideological position of the intelligentsia, such as ideas derived from their local Indian and trans-Indian linkages as well as contact with a colonial culture. It argues that while religion has always played an important role in the life of the intelligentsia its particular manifestation in political life is a recent phenomenon owing to colonial experiences as well as concerns about legitimacy in the post-colonial phase. It presents an in-depth account of the major discourses in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Bengal including controversies regarding language, identity and nationalism. The distinctiveness of the study lies in its subject matter and the inter-disciplinary approach to it. The study has attempted to relate the ideological orientations of the intelligentsia to their social bases. It finds that the dominant ideology is determined to a large extent by the nature of the ruling elite, its social base as well as its educational and intellectual orientations.

This book, like the one on Saris of Madhia Pradesh, gives excellent insight into Indian textile cottage industry and its interdependence between dealers and producers.Rta Kapur is definitely one of the most knowledgable persons in the field. She knows the rich Indian tradition in textiles and has travelled to the most remote places to gather information. Each chapter starts with "a weaver's journey". Here we get a feeling of what life in rural India can be.An excellent book with beautiful pictures.

Who would have thought that present is a veritable part of history? Who would have thought that political criticism in form of a number of essays could be a way of recounting history ? Well, Partho Chatterjee did . A collection of commentaries and criticisms at various points of the history ,some of course pretty well referenced documents ,some even very personal view-points which are highly argueable , yet when one finishes reading all of them(and one cannot keep it away till fully done) , one gets to form one's one image of the present Wbengal . Is that history ?? Why not?? since the concept of history as "objective" and only "factual" does not have many takers in the wake of post-modernist debate , one starts to appreciate various modes of history-telling .Partho-da has shown us one. Economics, comparative statitistics in the two bengals before and after the partition, social-psyche and expectations of people and the non-fulfillment of them , their effect subsequently , how the culture is getting affected by phenomena in other parts of India,subcontinent and other parts of the world , all these are found in this book . I would dream of a period when this style would grow up and streatch to compiling representative debates or discourses with political annotations and comments .Sumanta Bannerjee and the Frontier Anthology tried to do such a thing with the Naxalite movement .It would be nice if PArtho-da and others could eke out a method of history-telling through comments and discourses as well with some relevant news clippings and chronology . It bemuses me how beautifully the shruti and smriti tradition is getting flourished in the text tradition at this post-modern age .