Book Reviews Geraldine Forbes Women in Modern Indi

Abstract

This volume, dealing with the subject of women in modern India, comes within the fourth rubric of the planned design of the ‘new’ Cambridge History of India [see review of Politics in India since Independence by Paul R. Brass]. The author of this volume is Professor Geraldine Forbes, of the State University of New York, who has, over the years, produced researched volumes on women in Bengal and other books on India. In the writing of this volume, she has ably used the material available to her in the US, the UK and India itself. The book begins with an introduction that is followed by some eight chapters and a ‘bibliographic essay’ [according to the original design of the editors] which comments on the nature and scope of the various books, documents and other material that were consulted in the composition and preparation of this volume. The essay is extensive and it appears that the author has made wide use of available sources and reference works in English as well as those works which exist in English translation. Works not translated are beyond the accessibility of the author. One useful and praiseworthy feature which the editors should have made mandatory for all contributors is that each chapter is ended with a conclusion which sums up the findings of that chapter. ‘