The Scattered Leaves of My Life : An Indian Nationalist Remembers

This is the first translation into English of Jibaner Jharapata, the autobiography of a remarkable 19th century Bengali feminist, Sarladebi Chaudharani (1872-1945), which outlines her imaginings of an independent Indian nation and her view of women’s role within it. This book articulates her passionate advocay for women’s education and includes fascinating details of the challenges faced by an educated, independent woman at that time.

Translated, edited and introduced by Sikata Bannerjee, she locates Saraladebi among the important voices of Indian nationalisms, which have, until recently, been seen as solely masculine. Banerjee’s Introduction fleshes out biographical details, and sitates her ideology within current debates around gender, nation and feminisms, while her Afterword reflects on the legacy of Saraladebi’s ideas in the present.