The Road Less
Travelled: The Life and Writings of Vinodinee Neelkanth
Biographical Sketch by Aparna
Basu and Shailaja Kalelkar Parikh
demy octavo pb 336pp
ISBN 81-85604-71-1 Rs 375 March 2009
A pioneer who was an early emancipated woman, Vinodinee
Neelkanth (1907-1987) lived her life according to her own beliefs and
convictions. As early as 1929 she won a scholarship to do a Masters at the
University of Michigan. Born into a leading reformist family of Gujarat, she
made bold and unconventional choices in her life. She began writing in 1928,
her essays becoming milestones in Gujarati literature. Her short stories and
novel focused mainly on women. Most of her journalistic writings aimed at
encouraging women to speak up for themselves. As she strove to give women a
sense of identity, she may be regarded a s precursor of feminist literature in
Gujarat.
Part I offers a brief biography; Part II consists of
translations of selected pieces of her writings from all genres, giving an
insight into the social changes that was taking place and that Vinodinee
supported. This book is a path-breaking collection on women’s status in early
twentieth-century Gujarat.
Aparna Basu retired as professor of history, University of
Delhi and was President, All India Women’s Conference. Shailaja Kalelkar Parikh
was formerly a lecturer in political science and journalism and is a freelance
writer.
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