Category Archives: Feminism

Internet Sleuthing – Mary Bhor

Posted on 14/01/2017 by Anu M

Mary Bhor (1865?-1913) Daughter of Rao Saheb Ramji Gangaji Bhor and a second generation Christian, she took advantage of her English education and fairly liberal background provided by her parents. She had obtained a teacher’s training certificate from London and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900s, Christianity, Colonial, Costume, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Indian Costume, Indian Women, Maharashtra, regional styles, Sari, Sari Blouse, Victorian, vintage costume, vintage sari, women writers, Working Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 80s cinema post

Posted on 26/12/2016 by Anu M

Trikon ka Chautha Kon aka The Fourth Angle of a Triangle (1986) is kind of quasi arthouse 80s cinema and more than a little regressive when it comes to it’s women protagonists who dominate much of the film. The film … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980s, 20th century, Actor, bindi, Bollywood, Children, churidar kameez, churidar kurta, Cinema, Costumes in Cinema, dupatta, fashion, Feminism, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hair, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, late 20th century, Movies, retro cinema, retro fashion, Salwar Kameez, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage Blouse, vintage cinema, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

RIP Jayalalithaa

Posted on 08/12/2016 by Anu M

Jayalalithaa – 24 February 1948 – 5 December 2016  

Posted in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 20th century, Actor, Cinema, fashion, Feminism, Indian Cinema, Indian fashion, Indian Women, late 20th century, Politicians, Politics, retro cinema, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, South India, South Indian Cinema, Tamil Cinema, Tamil Nadu, vintage fashion, Women, Women Rulers | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The 1970s Recap

Posted on 23/09/2014 by Anu M

Wrapped up the 1970s on tumblr: 1970s, sari history, fashion history. And a very random round up of the decade it was: Indira Gandhi was elected Prime Minister with a decisive majority in 1971. The same year the Indo-Pakistan war … Continue reading →

Posted in 1970s, 20th century, Actor, Bengal, Bollywood, Culture, Feminism, History, India, Indian Cinema, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, Politics, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Tumblr, vintage sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Plucky Girl

Posted on 23/09/2014 by Anu M

Sanskrit poetry is so often full of lovelorn ladies unable to bear separation from the hero (Virahotkanthita Nayika). And this recurs often in those Radha-Krishna paintings. And of course Hindi cinema is full of “viraha” songs.  But none of that … Continue reading →

Posted in 7th century, 8th century, Ancient India, Feminism, Girls, Indian Women, Literature, Love, Poetry, Romance, Sanskrit, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Modern Times

Posted on 26/07/2014 by Anu M

I love all those illustrations back in the day (largely the 20s) that have men terrified of the forthcoming emancipation of women.  More often than not, the women in the illustrations look so nonchalant and cool. Pic 1 from Korea … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, 1920s, Asia, Comics, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Flapper, Illustration, India, Magazine, Vintage, vintage art | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Stunt Queens of the 1930s

Posted on 05/10/2013 by Anu M

Next evening we too saw her as she sat in front of the Well of Death, looking bored, chain smoking Scissors cigarettes.  She wore a “birjis”* of shining blue satin, and her heavily painted face looked weirdly blue in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, Actor, Cinema, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Indian Cinema, Indian Women, Old Bollywood, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Maharani Post

Posted on 26/09/2013 by Anu M

A liberal spirit, she was an ardent nationalist and one of the founders of the women’s movement in India. She certainly imbibed some of her non-conformist attitude from her husband Sayajirao Gaekwad. Under him, Baroda became the first princely state … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, Asia, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Early 20th Century, Feminism, India, Indian Women, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, Uncategorized, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Vintage Illustration

Posted on 17/09/2013 by Anu M

Gaganendranath Tagore‘s “Respecting Women?” illustration of 1916. (via sotheby’s). Things haven’t changed vastly in a 100 odd years.

Posted in 1910s, Bengal, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Illustration, India, Indian men, Indian Women, Sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ashapurna Devi

Posted on 18/05/2013 by Anu M

In her trilogy, Pratham Pratisruti, Subarnalata, and Bakul Katha, Ashapurna Devi traces the progression of the feminist movement from colonial to post- colonial India. Anita Ghosh in Feminism In Indian Writings In English,  edited by Amar Nath Prasad. Covers of Ashapurna Devi’s books (click to see larger … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Bengal, Colonial, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Indian Dress, Novels, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment