Indian Feminisms: Concepts, History & Intersectional Issues | Course Guide
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 1051 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 4 weeks |
| Categories | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit Points | 1 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Feb 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 28 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Indian Feminisms: Concepts and Issues – Deconstructing the Monolith
The story of women's rights and gender justice in India is not a singular narrative. It is a vibrant, complex, and often contentious tapestry woven from diverse threads of caste, class, religion, sexuality, and region. The online course Indian Feminisms: Concepts and Issues, offered by the distinguished Prof. Anandita Pan of IIT Hyderabad, invites you to move beyond a homogenized view and engage with this rich plurality.
This 4-week undergraduate/postgraduate course, hosted under the Humanities and Social Sciences category, is a critical journey into the heart of how the category ‘woman’ has been constructed, contested, and reimagined in the Indian context.
Why Study Indian Feminisms?
Indian feminism challenges the universal assumptions of Western feminist thought by centering the specific socio-historical realities of the subcontinent. This course is premised on the notion of particularity over universalism. It asks fundamental questions: How is Indian womanhood constructed? What are the unique impacts of gender and sexuality here? Which frameworks—like caste and religion—become paramount in Indian feminist articulations?
For students of Literature, Sociology, Women's and Gender Studies, this course provides an indispensable foundation for understanding contemporary debates on equality, representation, and justice in India.
Course Instructor: Expertise in Intersectionality
The course is led by Prof. Anandita Pan, an acclaimed scholar and author. Her seminal work, Mapping Dalit Feminism: Towards an Intersectional Standpoint, is a cornerstone text that explores how different forms of discrimination overlap. Her expertise ensures that the course delves deep into the critical concept of intersectionality, examining how patriarchy is intertwined with and challenged by structures of caste, class, and sexuality.
Course Layout: A Four-Week Intellectual Journey
The course is meticulously structured to build a comprehensive understanding:
| Week | Theme | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Indian Feminism: A Historical Overview | Tracing the evolution of feminist thought from social reform movements to contemporary digital activism. |
| Week 2 | Nation and its Women | Analyzing how the figure of the woman has been used in nationalist projects and the resulting tensions. |
| Week 3 | Violence and its After-Effects | Examining bodily autonomy, sexual violence, and the politics of representation and justice. |
| Week 4 | Labour and Identity | Investigating the gendered and caste-based division of labor, informal work, and struggles for recognition. |
Core Themes and Concepts
Throughout the four weeks, the course will engage with pivotal themes that define Indian feminist discourse:
- Intersectionality: Moving beyond a unified 'sisterhood' to understand how Dalit, Adivasi, Muslim, and queer women experience oppression differently.
- Challenging Brahmanical Patriarchy: Engaging with the critiques offered by anti-caste thinkers like B.R. Ambedkar, Jotirao Phule, and Periyar.
- Body as a Site of Struggle: Exploring control over sexuality, reproductive rights, and violence as tools of patriarchal and casteist control.
- Feminist Re-readings of History: Recovering the voices and contributions of women in social and political movements.
Essential Reading List
The course draws on a formidable and curated bibliography, encouraging engagement with foundational texts. Key authors and works include:
- B.R. Ambedkar: Annihilation of Caste and writings on Brahmanical patriarchy.
- Uma Chakravarti: Gendering Caste.
- Urvashi Butalia: The Other Side of Silence (on Partition).
- Sharmila Rege: Writings on Dalit feminist standpoint.
- Nivedita Menon: Seeing Like a Feminist.
- Prof. Anandita Pan: Mapping Dalit Feminism.
This course is more than an academic module; it is an invitation to deconstruct monolithic narratives and appreciate the powerful, diverse, and resilient voices that constitute Indian feminisms. It equips learners with the analytical tools to understand the past and critically engage with the ongoing struggles for a more just and equitable future.
Intended Audience: Students across disciplines (BA, MA, PhD) in Literature, Sociology, Women's Studies, Gender Studies, History, and Political Science.
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