Question

The book, Stri-Purush Tulana, which is based on criticism of the social differences between men and women, was authored by which of the following scholars?
1. Pandita Ramabai
2. Begum Rokeya
3. Tarabai Shinde
4. Rasasundari Devi

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Tarabai Shinde

Stri Purush Tulana (A comparison between men and women) is a pamphlet/book written by feminist activist Tarabai Shinde.

Tarabai Shinde:

• Shinde was a writer born in the Berar province of Buldhana (present-day Maharashtra) who protested against upper-caste patriarchy and the caste system in India. 
• She was a member of the Satyashodhak Samaj and was also an associate of Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule.
• The pamphlet was originally published in Marathi in 1882.
• The literary work is a critique of upper caste patriarchy and the gender and caste system in 19th century India.
• The material is also considered the first modern feminist text of India. 
• Shinde questions the position of women in society and their rights.
• Stri Purush Tulana was a reaction to a newspaper article in Pune Vaibhav, an orthodox newspaper that supported the caste and gender system.
• The article was written attacking a young Brahmin widow Vijayalakshmi who was sentenced for execution for aborting her illegitimate child fearing public disgrace and ostracism.
• The article also criticized women in general, for their changing morals and behaviour. 
• Shinde reacted firmly against this through her work.
• Though the book received negative views from society, Jyotirao Phule appreciated Shinde's work and also referenced it in his magazine, 'Satsar'.

Hence, the correct answer is Tarabai Shinde

• Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati:
  • She was a women's rights & education activist, a pioneer in the education and emancipation of women in India, and a social reformer.
  • She was the first woman to be awarded the titles of Pandita as a Sanskrit scholar and Sarasvati after being examined by the faculty of the University of Calcutta. 
• Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain:
  • She was commonly known as Begum Rokeya, was a Bengali feminist thinker, writer, educator, and political activist from British India.
  • She is widely regarded as a pioneer of women's liberation in South Asia.
• Rasasundari Devi:
  • In 1876 Rassundari's autobiography Amar Jiban (My Life) was published.
  • The book is in two parts, the first of which, consisting of sixteen shorter compositions narrated her autobiography.
  1. The second part, published in 1906, contained fifteen shorter compositions, each preceded by a dedicatory poem.