PRAJNYA ARCHIVES

making South Asian women visible

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Our ‘Rainmakers’ winners!

January 2, 2012

The Rainmakers exhibit had 2 winners!

Based on jury comments and visitors’ observations, we gave two first prizes. One prize, a photo printer, went to Prasant Mohanty of Madhya Pradesh for his photo: ‘Surviving. being resourceful.’ The other first prize, a gift certificate, was awarded to Sakshi Kumar for ‘University Graduate, New Delhi.’

Surviving. Being resoourceful (Prasant Mohanty)

University graduate, New Delhi (Sakshi Kumar)

Congratulations, Prasant and Sakshi!

The event would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors. We are very grateful to Cognizant Technology Solutions who offered a donation to support both the Rainmakers exhibition and the cost of maintaining a small travel exhibition and making it available locally. Prajnya would also like to thank Active Tiny Laptop for their sponsorship of the prize! And finally, our thanks to Rajesh Advani for filming the event!

Filmed by Rajesh Advani.

‘Rainmakers’ exhibition walkthrough

September 1, 2011

In a diplomatic delegation

September 1, 2011

Mythily Sivaraman at the United Nations (New York), 1967.

The photograph was taken when Mythily worked from July 1966 to mid-1968 as Research Assistant in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN. Her research work related to non-self-governing territories and their problems and included the preparation of statements to be made by the Indian delegation on colonial and related issues and participation inthe committees responsible for decolonization in the Third World. At the end of her stint in the UN, Mythily returned to India to work with the Left movement and eventually became a well-known Trade Unionorganizer and women rights activist.Photo submitted by: K.Kalpana (daughter of subject)

Human rights activist

September 1, 2011

Anjum Zamrooda Habib, Srinagar, February 4, 2011

“Anjum Zamrooda Habib is part of a human rights organization in Kashmir and is seen here protesting for the rights of women in Kashmir. These protests took place after two girls from Sopore were killed by unknown gunmen in Kashmir. She also preaches Islam among the Muslim women community. She is an eminent political and social women’s activist. She has been a member of Women’s Welfare Association, She is presently working in Muslim Khawateen Markaz (MKM). She was also jailed for five consecutive years and recently she has written a book Prisoner No. 100.”

Photographer: Muhabit-ul-Haq

No.61) Contributed by Arun Budhathoki (Kathmandu, Nepal)

Restaurant owner and chef, Nepal

September 1, 2011

Outside Kathmandu City. Photo submitted by Arun Budhathoki.

No.62) Contributed by Arun Budhathoki (Kathmandu, Nepal)

The domestic is public

September 1, 2011 — 1 Comment

Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo submitted by Arun Budhathoki.

No.63) Contributed by Arun Budhathoki (Kathmandu, Nepal)

Food seller outside Kathmandu

September 1, 2011

A woman who sells food outside Kathmandu, Nepal. “On the way to Jiri, outskirts of Kathmandu City, a place for trekkers to begin their journey.”

Photo submitted by Arun Budhathoki.

No.19) Contributor Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

Looking forward?

September 1, 2011

No.20) Contributor Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

Community life in public spaces

September 1, 2011 — 1 Comment

Photo submitted by Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal).

No. 2) Shanta Bai (contributor Shilpa Anand)

Entrepreneur

September 1, 2011

Shanta bai, “woman of substance,” (based in Mumbai) is nothing short of an entrepreneur, who has spent her life combining domestic service with micro-enterprises that include a taxi service. She has raised her children and helped raise her grandchildren well, and ensured they have access to better opportunities than she did. Her work and life and that of her family are a striking example of social mobility won with vision, intelligence and physical and emotional stamina, against many odds.

Photo submitted by Shilpa Anand.

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In community work, India

August 31, 2011

“This photo was taken during the Joy Of Giving Week in 2010. Along with Ms .Malathi, trustee of Tanker foundation, we visited 5 orphanages and fed 650 orphan children. The above photo shows me with the kids of the Seva Samaj orphanage in Chennai. “

Submitted by K. Nandhini Santhala Dinesh, Director Of DSIN Technology Pvt Ltd Chennai.

Building cultural ties

August 31, 2011

Meghna Guhathakurta and Rina Barman of ICSSR with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, 1973 during the visit of the 1st Education Commission of Bangladesh to India (contributor Meghna Guhathakurta)

Education diplomacy

August 31, 2011

Basanti Guhathakurta, present in the picture, along with Dr. Khudrat e Khoda, renowned scientist and chair of the Education Commission, talking with President V.V. Giri , Raj Bhavan, New Delhi (1973). Photo submitted by Meghna Guhathakurta.

On an education mission

August 31, 2011

“Meeting with President V.V.Giri of India 1973 , accompanying my mother with the Khudrat e Khoda Education Commission. Seen in the picture are my mother Basanti Guhathakurta, and Prof. M.U. Ahmed, psychologist, members of the commission and myself (Meghna Guhathakurta).”

Photo submitted by Meghna Guhathakurta

Headmistress of a girls’ school in Dhaka

August 31, 2011

1954: Basanti Guhathakurta, headmistress of Maniza Rahman Girls School, Gandaria, Dhaka (old town), back row standing 4th from left, during a cultural function. Centre front row: Begum Shamsunnahar, writer and student of Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain; on her right, Asha Lata Sen veteran Congress leader; The rest are teachers, volunteers (standing) and leading community leaders (in the front row).

Photo submitted by Meghna Guhathakurta.

An early film personality, India

August 31, 2011

Aideu Handique, the first heroine of Assamese cinema. Photo submitted by Nilim Dutta.

Potter

August 31, 2011

Potter in Beldaur panchayat, Khagaria, 28.1.2011. “Many female artisans, indulge in pottery work to establish an alternative and local source of livelihood for existence.” Photo contributed by Eklavya Prasad.

Athlete and car rallyist, India

August 31, 2011

Deepa Malik, wheelchair bound athelete and ATV car rallyist, 13.09.09, Ahmednagar. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma.

Mechanic, India

August 31, 2011

Deepali Dharmadhikari, two-wheeler mechanic, 15.09.09, Pune. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma.

Stunt biker, India

August 31, 2011

Firdaus Sheikh, stunt biker, 17.01.10, Pune. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma.

No.28) Contributor Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

When private and public are indistinguishable

August 31, 2011

Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photo submitted by Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal).

Fire officer, India

August 31, 2011

Harshini Kanhekar, Fire Officer, 22.12.09, Mehsana (Gujarat). Photo contributed by Ashish Verma.

Laying our roads

August 31, 2011

Photo taken in Kanikaipair, on the way to Periyapalayam from Redhills, 19.03.2011. Contributed by R. Kasiviswanathan.

Leisure

August 31, 2011

Photo submitted by Putul Tiwari.

Construction worker

August 31, 2011

Construction worker in Golahalli, outskirts of Bangalore.

“The lady was working on the construction of a primary school building. There were 40 people listed for the job but only she turned up that day. When asked, she told that she has a grandson to look after and that is the reason she comes to work daily.”

Photo submitted by Putul Tiwari.

Going places, India

August 31, 2011

Photo submitted by Putul Tiwari.

Keeping streets clean, India

August 31, 2011

“An early morning sight of a woman sweeping the streets of an educational institution in Mumbai. Women have been historically pushed to the margins in the caste hierarchy… . This is particularly the case with the many women who choose or are forced to serve this country by cleaning its streets and sewers. The citizens of this country will never be able to repay the debt they owe to these workers.”

Photo submitted by Prasant Mohanty.

Flower seller, India

August 31, 2011

Photo taken at Shivaji Nagar bus stand. Submitted by Putul Tiwari.

No.51) Contributor Putul Tiwari, journalism student at IIJNM, Bangalore

For many women, life is always lived in public spaces (India)

August 31, 2011

Photo taken in 2010. Submitted by Putul Tiwari.

Flower seller, India

August 31, 2011

Flower seller in Perambur, Tamil Nadu, India, 26.3.2011. Photo submitted by Gowtham Raj.

In the sericultural industry

August 31, 2011

“Most of the women in in Devegere, a village on the outskirts of Bangalore, are barely literate. They are engaged in sericulture (silk farming), which is the only source of income of lot of families in the area.”

Photo submitted by Putul Tiwari, Bangalore.

Surviving. Being resourceful

August 31, 2011

“A woman salvages burnt utensils from the remains of what used to be her house until last evening. On the evening of the 2nd of March, a fire that broke out in the slums on the eastern side of Bandra Station (Mumbai) spread to 500 households and by next daybreak all house were leveled to the ground. The women here had nothing left except for the clothes that they wore; yet they dutifully set out that morning to rebuild their lives and that of their families.” Submitted by Prasant Mohanty.

Valuing the girl child + women’s leisure in public spaces

August 31, 2011

“A woman holds her daughter by her side as they wait for the waves to return to their feet on a beach. All around the world, parenthood is celebrated. But for many in India, the birth of a girl child is considered a scar on parenthood. We need protect the girl child and the perils she faces.” Contributed by Prasant Mohanty.

Opposing the Jaitapur nuclear power plant, India

August 31, 2011

“Vaishali Patil, a Konkani activist, is at the forefront of the struggle against the coming up of the proposed Nuclear Power Plant at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. Women like Vaishali from all walks of life are paying serious heed to the process of development happening around them and the impact it will have on the people who will be affected and the people who are the proposed beneficiaries. A concrete understanding of issues has been the focus of women activists working with various caste and class groups around the country. Many names remain unknown but the spirit of fighting injustice drives all of them.”

Photo submitted by Prasant Mohanty (Orissa)

Jaitapur activist, India

August 31, 2011

A woman is seen demonstrating her dissent and dismay at the atrocities perpetrated by the state & the police against the people of Jaitapur, the site of the proposed Nuclear Power Plant in Maharashtra.

“The country is at a turning point in history now. Having exhausted all resources that the Governments could lay their hands on during and after the Independence struggle, they have now turned to what remains. The most vulnerable and marginalized of the country who live off these remaining resources are subjected to the highhandedness of the government and its authoritarian ways of functioning. Peaceful protest and non violent demonstration of dissent have emerged as an alternative. Women are leading the way”.

Photo submitted by Prasant Mohanty, Orissa.

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Taking education seriously, Bangladesh

August 30, 2011

Mothers meet with the organizers of Chakma learning centres for young children to discuss their children’s welfare before the school started. Photo contributed by Saifuzzaman Rana.

Background:

Research Initiatives, Bangladesh is a research support organization which specializes in Participatory Action Research. Over the eight years of its existence (see www.rib-bangladesh.org) it has developed certain tools through which to reach out to the marginalized and impoverished through empowering the community. The Kajoli Early Childhood learning cenres have been part of this . These are centres where pre-school aged children of impoverished families engage in learning activities in a way that is fun and low-cost at the same time. Around 180 such centres exist all over Bangladesh and teh centres are sustained by teh community. Mothers of each children take turns in feeding the children. More information is available at www.rib-kajolimodel.org

Recently Kajoli centres were initiated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), a region where 14 different ethnic groups of indigenous people live. It has been a region of turmoil, with a history of rebellious movement against militarization and a demand for regional autonomy. Th CHT Accord of 1997 between the Government of Bangladesh and the Shanti Bahini remains to be implemented in full. The people of the region has not been idle. One of their demands was to enable the teaching of mother tongue in their local schools.Instead of waiting for the Government they with teh support of RIB has taken the initiative to translate the “pocketboard” a learning tool used in Kajoli centres in the Chakma language and propagate this through community outreach method adopted by Kajoli centres. At the moment there are three such centres operating in Khagrachhori, teh northernmost district of the CHT.

No.38) Champa Khis, running a similar centre (Rana, Dhaka)

Teaching Chakma children, Bangladesh

August 30, 2011

in Khagrasori, Champa Kis running a Kajoli learning centre. Contributed by Saifuzzaman Rana, Dhaka. Photo contributed by Saifuzzaman Rana.

Background:

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Kajoli Chakma learning centres, Bangladesh

August 30, 2011

Kemi Chakma conducting a learning session with children using the pocket-board (contributor Saifuzzaman Rana, Dhaka)

Background:

No.24) Contributor Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

Guava seller, Jhabua, India

August 30, 2011

Photo contributed by Lokendra Singh Kot, Bhopal.

Lambadi protesters

August 30, 2011

Lambadi protest against NREGA system in the state, 15.3.2011, Chikkalalbagh, Bangalore

“They took part in a protest which included around 3000-4000 people from all over North Karnataka. They were protesting about the job card, allotment of work on time, proper wages paid on time, and demanding a halt to the violation of women’s rights.”

Photo submitted by Mr. Eswarappa.

Social worker with a legacy to carry forward, Sangli

August 30, 2011

Dr. Lata Deshpande at her home, which is a memorial to her father, a freedom fighter, town mayor, social worker and accomplished doctor. Among the wall displays are letters and photographs of many freedom fighters (Contributed by Manisha Joshi).

Community work in Sangli

August 30, 2011

Dr. Lata Deshpande, social worker, in her timeless kitchen. Nutritious meals are planned and resources sourced for more than 40 destitute girls who live on top floor of the house (Joshi).

Social worker at her school, Sangli

August 30, 2011

Dr. Lata Deshpande talking to some children at the school she runs with her sister, Dr. Deshpande Balvidya Mandir in Sangli. The school is run for the poorest of the poor but has many interesting science exhibits and also computers that the kids work on (contributor Manisha Joshi).

Social worker, India

August 30, 2011

Dr. Lata Deshpande is addressing a gathering during the school sports day at her school Dr. Deshpande Balvidya Mandir in Sangli, Maharashtra. A dimunitive and shy woman – she has had remarkable success in dealing with many anti-social elements while agitating against illegal bars, other anti-woman activities, but also fighting to maintain their town’s green cover. Contributed by Manisha Joshi.

Priest, India

August 30, 2011

Manisha, Hindu Priest, Pune , 16.09.09. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma.

Vietnamese village matriarch

August 30, 2011

Matriarch Da Lat, Vietnam, 2010.

“This photograph was taken in a small village, comprising of about 20 families, and having no running water or electricity, located at the top of a mountain in South Vietnam. Upon trekking there, our guide informed us that the village was completely matriarchal, and the woman in the photograph was the head of the village. She possessed a quiet authority, and seemed unfazed by our tourist group of five. It was quite new, to see the woman of the house sitting on the only chair, while her husband sat on his haunches beside her!

Photo submitted by Asmita Ghosh.

Bullet rider, India

August 30, 2011

Maya Ganesh, Bullet Rider, Chennai, 9.1.2010. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma.

Leisure and public life in Jhabua, India

August 30, 2011

Photo taken in September 2009, and submitted by Lokendra Singh Kot, Bhopal.

No.21) Contributor Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

Woman in Jhabua district (India)

August 30, 2011

Photo taken in September 2009, in Madhya Pradesh. Submitted by Lokendra Singh Kot, Bhopal.

Welfare work, empowering women in Pakistan

August 30, 2011

Photo submitted by Nazia Batool.

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Welfare work, Pakistan

August 30, 2011

Nazia Batool, President of the Batool Welfare Trust, Pakistan is distributing gifts among women community on the centenary of IWD, 2011,2011. Contributed by Nazia Batool.

Holding fort in Khagaria

August 30, 2011

Photographed 5.2.2010 in Dahma Khairi Kutaha, Khagaria district. “In the absence of a male head of household, a woman residing in the flood prone areas have to look after children, livestock, household chores, agriculture and much more, hardly leaving time to care for herself. The absence of men in the region is a result of rampant migration owing to lack of livelihood opportunities largely due to floods.” Contributed by Eklavya Prasad.

Horse breaker, Pune

August 30, 2011

Rasika Reddy, Horse Breaker, 16.09.10, Pune. Contributed by Ashish Verma.

No.81) Red and Gold (taken in Nepal, 2008) (Calamur)

Sifting wheat from the chaff

August 30, 2011

Photo taken in Nepal, 2008, by Harini Calamur.

Businesswoman, oil tanker sector

August 30, 2011

Reeta, businesswoman in the transportation sector (Oil tankers), 29. 10. 09, New Delhi. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma.

Disc Jockey, Ahmedabad

August 29, 2011

Roopalee Parswani, Disk Jockey, 14.03.10, Ahmedabad. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma

Horse Jockey, Chennai

August 29, 2011

Rupa, horse jockey, Chennai, 9.1.2010. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma.

Commonwealth Games athlete

August 29, 2011

The athlete in the picture won a gold medal in the disc throwing competition during the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi (contributor Sakshi Kumar).

University graduate, New Delhi

August 25, 2011

“This picture was found during a college archival project. It was taken in the late 70s in a photo studio. The degree Pratibha Sharma holds is from Delhi University. She is my friend’s aunt from whom we borrowed this photograph.”

Contributed by Sakshi Kumar.

No.29) Contributor Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

Construction workers, Bhopal

August 25, 2011

Construction and maintenance work in a Bhopal village. Submitted by Lokendra Singh Kot.

Women in Mumbai

August 25, 2011

Submitted by Harini Calamur.

Taking a moment….

August 25, 2011

Submitted by Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

Wrestler, Haryana

August 25, 2011

Sonika Kaliraman, wrestler, Ropar, Haryana, (15-11-09)

Auto rickshaw driver, New Delhi

August 25, 2011

Sunita Chaudhary, auto rickshaw driver, New Delhi, (30-10-09), Submitted by Ashish Verma

Adventure travel entrepreneur, Chandigarh

August 25, 2011

Supreet Dhiman, businesswoman and founder of CATS (an adventure group), Chandigarh (20-10-09). Submitted by Ashish Verma

Debating in Delhi

August 18, 2011

“My mother is seen here at an inter-collegiate debate that took place at some point between 1983-1986. She studied at Miranda College, University of Delhi and participated in many events such as this.”

Photo contributed by Sakshi Kumar

Social spaces of public life

August 18, 2011

Contributed by Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

Washer women, Sawantwadi

August 18, 2011

Washer women at Sawant Wadi, Maharashtra, 2008

Photo submitted by Harini Calamur

At a Women’s Welfare Trust, Pakistan

August 18, 2011

Nazia Batool, President Batool Welfare Trust Pakistan is briefing a community of women about the centenary of IWD, 2011

Contributed by Nazia Batool

Festive spaces of public life

August 18, 2011

“Nagalakshmi and N. Valli (my grandmother and grand aunt respectively) taking time off sweet and savoury making and joining in the Diwali celebrations, late 1960s in Madras” (contributor Hamsini Ravi)

Activist at AIDWA meeting

August 18, 2011

Mythily Sivaraman at a street corner meeting, Tamil Nadu (exact location not known) in the late 1990s – early 2000s. It is a photograph of Mythily speaking at a meeting organized by women activists of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Jananayaga Maadhar Sangam. One of the founder members of AIDWA in Tamil Nadu, Mythily’s association with AIDWA has spanned 37 years.

Photo submitted by: K.Kalpana (daughter of subject)

No.22) Contributor Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)

Claiming access to public spaces in small ways

August 17, 2011

An adivasi woman in Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photo submitted by Lokendra Singh Kot.

Submitted by K.Kalpana (daughter of subject)

For the Dalit cause

August 17, 2011

Mythily Sivaraman in Keezhvenmani village (Nagai district, Tamil Nadu), in early January 1969.

The picture was taken when Mythily visited Keezhvenmani village shortly after an infamous massacre in December 1968 in which 44 dalit labourers were burnt alive in a locked hut by local landlords after a long agitation for higher wages. Mythily was the earliest to visit Keezhvenmani and write about it in the national media. In the picture with her is Krishnammal Jagannathan, Gandhian social activist. The Keezhvenmani massacre strengthened Mythily’s resolve to ignore all job offers and work with the Left movement in India.

Photo submitted by K.Kalpana (daughter of subject)

Contributed by Arun Budhathoki (Kathmandu, Nepal)

Nepali market entrepreneurs

August 17, 2011

Contributed by Arun Budhathoki (Kathmandu, Nepal)

On a diplomatic mission

August 17, 2011

Mythily Sivaraman in the office of the state government of New York (Albany), March 1966.

The picture of Mythily and her colleagues was taken at a farewell party for Mythily who worked from Feb.1965 to March1966 in the Research and Fiscal Policy Planning Unit of the Budget Division of the State Government of New York. From the photographs of the Unit where she worked, it appears that Mythily was the only non-white person present. Mythily eventually returned to India to work with the Left movement and became a well-known Trade Union organizer and women’s rights activist. Photo submitted by: K.Kalpana (daughter of subject)

Nepali tea plantation workers

August 17, 2011

: Contributed by Arun Budhathoki, Kathmandu, Nepal

The ‘Rainmakers’ exhibition photo album

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August 7, 2011

‘Rainmakers’ guest comments

August 7, 2011

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In the news: our ‘Rainmakers’ exhibit

August 5, 2011

Coming soon!

August 3, 2011

Bhutanese weaver

August 3, 2011

Weaver in Thimpu, Bhutan, in September 2007 (Photo contributed by Abeer Hoque)

Read about our upcoming ‘Rainmakers’ exhibit, August 5 – 7, 2011

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August 3, 2011

At the political centre

August 3, 2011

Congress Party Member of Parliament, Lalitha Rajagopalan, with President Zakir Hussain, New Delhi (date unknown) (Photo contributed by her daughter Priya Rajagopalan)

Public or private life?

August 3, 2011

Woman chopping vegetables out in the open in Tangail, Bangladesh , in April 2007 (Photo contributed by Abeer Hoque)

A woman weeding at Qutb Minar , New Delhi, India, in August 2007 (photo contributed by Abeer Hoque)

Woman weeding, India

August 3, 2011

Woman weeding at Qutb Minar, New Delhi, in August 2007 (photo contributed by Abeer Hoque)

The Maldivian Princess, Maandoogey Don Didi

August 3, 2011

Princess Maandoogey Don Didi, 1895, Male (Maldives). Maandoogey Don Didi was the mother of a Maldive sultan and step-mother of another. This is likely to be the earliest photograph of a Maldive lady of such prominence. This photo was taken circa 1895. Photo contributed by her great-grandson Chris Abdul-Wahhab.

Vendor with child

August 2, 2011

Vendor, with child, in Thimpu, Bhutan, in September 2007 (Photograph contributed by Abeer Hoque)

Road workers in Bhutan

August 2, 2011

: Women in road works in Bhutan, September 2007 (Photo contributed by Abeer Hoque)

Construction workers in India

August 2, 2011

Taking a break from construction work in Hyderabad, India, in December 2006 (Photo contributed by Abeer Hoque)

Presidency Training School for Teachers and Students

October 27, 2010

Presidency Training School teachers and senior students, (probably 1946), Madras

Congress worker Lalitha Rajagopalan with K. Kamaraj

October 27, 2010

Lalitha Rajagopalan with K. Kamaraj (date unknown). Photo contributed by her daughters.

Congress women

October 19, 2010

This photo has, among others, Lalitha Rajagopalan in the back row (in the black sari). She remained a staunch Congress loyalist all her life. This photo is contributed to the archives by her daughters.

The Rotary Club in the 1960s

October 19, 2010

Lalitha Rajagopalan, in the centre, with her husband and children at the Rotary Club in the early 1960s. Photo submitted by her daughters.

Student leader on August 15, 1947

September 15, 2010 — 2 Comments

R.Vasantha at Queen Mary's College, independence celebrations, August 15, 1947

Working in the capital

June 21, 2010

R. Leela, at work in the Indonesian embassy in New Delhi, 1950s (photo courtesy R. Shyamala)

Seva Dal volunteers

June 21, 2010

Rashtriya Seva Dal volunteers, Queen Mary’s College circa 1947, Madras Presidency. Lady Dhanvantari Rama Rao with K.N. Lalitha, R. Vasantha, K.N. Pramila and others. (Rashtriya Seva Dal was the service wing of the Indian National Congress during the independence movement) (photo courtesy R. Shyamala)

All-India Youth Festival, 1954

June 21, 2010

R. Vijaya, representative of Rajputana University, Udaipur, at the very first All-India Youth Festival, New Delhi, 1954 (photo courtesy R. Shyamala)

Freedom fighter and social activist

June 19, 2010

S. Manjubhashini was active in the Indian freedom movement. Family stories abound about her deep commitment to the Swadeshi movement and the neighbourhood bonfires of British goods that she organized. She also founded Bala Mandir in 1948, one of the first orphanages of independent India.

The very first Maldivian first lady

June 19, 2010

The late Fathimath Saeed, the 1st first lady of the Maldives (wife of Amin Didi), 1984. Photo contributed by her grand daughter Farah Faizal.

The earliest first ladies of the Maldives

June 19, 2010

Mariyam Saeed and Fathimath Saeed, circa 1940s (sisters and former first ladies of the Maldives). Fathimath Saeed was married to the 1st President and was the first first lady. Mariyam Saeed was married to Ibrahim Nasir who later became the 2nd President of the Maldives. Both are sisters. Photo contributed by Fathimath Saeed’s grand daughter Farah Faizal.

Students in a march

June 19, 2010

Queen Mary’s College students in a march, Madras Presidency, 1940s

Women’s movement for peace

June 19, 2010

Women’s peace rally, 2002

Women’s Day rally

June 19, 2010

Vibhuti Patel addressing a rally on March 8, 1980

“Daughter of Maharashtra”

June 19, 2010

Pakistani peace delegates at Wagah

June 19, 2010

Pakistani peace delegates Nayyar Habib, Saeeda Diep and Ms. Lali at the Wagah border, 2005

Delegate at the United Nations

June 19, 2010

R. Lalitha, delegate at the United Nations, 1960s

Freedom front

June 19, 2010

Guard of Honour at the All-India Women’s conference

June 19, 2010

R. Shyamala, A.V Lakshmi, E.R. Leela, N. Parameshwaran, R. Susheila, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, P. Swaminathan, N. Padma.

(photo courtesy R. Vasantha)

Indian National Congress delegates

June 19, 2010

Delegates at the Indian National Congress, Jaipur session, December 1948. R. Vasantha, K. N. Lalitha, E.R. Leela and others at the Indian National Congress, Jaipur Session, December 1948 (photo courtesy R. Vasantha)

Solidarity march

June 19, 2010

December 1991

Teaching children in Madras

June 19, 2010

R. Vasantha, first from left, seen here with Prime Minister Nehru at Ashok Vihar Social Service Centre, Madras, 1949. In this photo: R. Vasantha, Jawaharlal Nehru, Madras Mayor Krishna Rao, Indira Gandhi, Dr. Sambandham, Dr. Jayalakshmi (photo courtesy R. Vasantha). She is also a writer and poet.

“Daughter is not for slaughter”

June 19, 2010

Saluting the flag of newly-independent India

June 19, 2010

Sakti workshop

June 19, 2010

Pakistani peace activists at the Indian border

June 19, 2010

In March-April 2005 a peace march was organized from the tomb of Nizam-ud-Din Aulia in Delhi to the tomb of Baha-ud-Din Zakria in Multan. In this photo the Pakistani delegation is at the Wagah border near Lahore, and the two women in the picture are Ms. Lali Kohli ( an activist against bonded labour in Sindh, Pakistan ) and Nayyar Habib of the Labour Party in Pakistan. Aslam Khwaja was part of the peace march and contributed this photograph to the archives.

Writing on women and law

June 19, 2010

Women in the club scene

June 19, 2010

Pattamal Rajagopaul (standing) and Lady P. Subbarayan at the South Indian Ladies' Association, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, 1950s (photo courtesy R. Shyamala)

Gender budgeters and planners

June 19, 2010

Women’s empowerment – roundtable

June 19, 2010

Peace activists

June 19, 2010

Chander Sabahi, former bonded labourer

June 19, 2010

Chander Sabahi is a former bonded labourer in Sindh, Pakistan (photo contributed by Aslam Khwaja)

Activists on a college campus

June 19, 2010

Scouts in Madras presidency

June 19, 2010

‘Public life’

October 8, 2009

‘Public life’ refers to a range of practices with public goals (social, political and economic), involving participation in activities that are firmly situated in public spaces. Activities in institutions like schools, hospitals, theatres, places of worship, the civil service and government, to name a few, constitute public life.

The archives are open to receiving old and contemporary photographs.

Collection categories

October 7, 2009

Our collection includes and invites photos from the following countries:

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The women in our images participate in public life as:

manual professionals, entrepreneurs, factory-workers, artists, missionaries, bureaucrats, activists, politicians, social workers, students, teachers and others.

The archival project

October 6, 2009

Every photograph, every image carries with it hidden histories. Each of us has innumerable treasure troves of visuals in our family albums, key to recovering important stories for our historical records.

Prajnya Archives is an initiative of the Prajnya Resource Centre on Women in Politics and Policy.

Its goal is to build an archive of visuals that can be used for writing much needed histories of South Asian women who have been visible and active in the public sphere over the last century.

Prajnya Archives is a user-generated project and invites the public, that is you, to delve into your weathered albums of old photos and contribute to our collections.

October 5, 2009

Politics, Women and Security

The Prajnya Resource Centre on Women In Politics And Policy has as its goal the creation of a comprehensive, continually updated, publicly accessible resource centre on the participation of women in the politics and policy structures of South Asia.

Prajnya Archives is an extension of this resource, with a shift of emphasis to visual records and a broader aim of documenting the role of women in the public realm in general.

Send your queries and comments to archives.prajnya@gmail.com

User-generated content

It is increasingly commonplace for museums to talk about UGC, or user-generated content. This means throwing open the doors of traditional knowledge institutions to the interested public. It means democratising the content of institutionalized knowledge. It means getting you, the public, to help build repositories such as museums and archives.

Our heritage is more than our architectural landscape. Our heritage is also the everyday stories of women and the numerous ways in which they build and act in human society.

Prajnya Archives is calling on each of us in South Asia to help build this archival resource so that many, many more histories of our women can be written.