Women's Higher Education in the 19th Century

The book gives a detailed account of the growth of higher education of women in the 19th and 20th century in Western India. It examines the role of the christian missionaries the male and the female intelligentsia and later the British Government who were the important agencies involved in promoting women's education. Their efforts helped in laying the foundation of higher education of women which finally culminated in the establishment of the S.N.D.T. University in 1916 in the Bombay Presidency. This was the only full-fledged university for women. The period also saw the beginning of professional education of women. The professions women generally went in for was teaching, nursing and midwifery in Western India. This was also true for other presidencies as well. A comparative analysis of the growth of professional education of women is undertaken at the All-India Level. The growth of education among women promoted political consciousness among them. It is significant to note that from the beginning of the national struggle women participated in it effectively though in a small number. It was only under Gandhiji that the educated women from urban areas and women from rural areas joined hand in the struggle for Swaraj. Thus, the book gives a graphic account of the socio-economic, political aspects of the growth of higher education of women in Western and also in the whole of India.