A study of “Womanhood” as Symbols to Further Colonial, Nationalist, and Religious Communal Agendas in the Indian subcontinent

Abstract

This study delves into the historical exploitation of women as symbols to advance colonial, nationalist, and religious communal agendas, particularly focusing on the Indian subcontinent. Through an analysis of various events, including the British response to widow immolation, the Bengal Renaissance, and the aftermath of the Partition of India, the study highlights how women’s plight was manipulated to serve broader political goals. Drawing from sources such as Tanika Sarkar’s Rebels, Wives, Saints and Urvashi Butalia’s The Other Side of Silence, the study underscores the dual nature of women’s victimization: first by patriarchal structures and then by the instrumentalization of their suffering to bolster ideological narratives. It argues that despite purported humanitarian concerns, women’s agency and well-being were often overlooked, with their experiences reduced to mere symbols in the pursuit of power and national identity. This study aims to shed light on the complex intersections of gender, politics, and power dynamics in historical contexts. Examining the instrumentalization of women’s suffering for political ends prompts reflection on the ethical implications of using marginalized groups as symbols to promote ostensibly progressive agendas.