Bish Shotoker Prothom Aloy Bangonari: Prekkhit Epar Bangla Opar Bangla/ বিশ শতকের প্রথম আলোয় বঙ্গনারী : প্রেক্ষিত এপার বাংলা ওপার বাংলা

Abstract

In the early 19^th century, Bengali women lived in a dark societal context, influenced by patriarchal norms and traditional practices that marginalized their rights and freedoms. Despite some educational advancements, many educated women still supported oppressive traditions, such as widowhood customs, reflecting the deep-rooted societal norms. The push for women's education gained momentum, especially after the partition of Bengal, leading to the establishment of many schools for refugee women, which significantly altered their educational landscape. The continuation of arranged marriages and the lack of agency for women in choosing their partners, revealing the entrenched societal norms that persisted into the 20^th century. Women played a crucial role in the nationalist movements, although their contributions were often overlooked by male leaders, emphasizing the need for recognition of women's agency in historical contexts. The partition of India led to significant upheaval, with many women facing violence and displacement, which further complicated their social status and rights. This paper, by reviewing several literature as primary data source and secondary data source, discusses in detail the aforementioned issues, challenges and fights of the women in Bengal and finally concludes by noting that the refugee women from East Bengal brought about a transformative change in societal perceptions of women, leading to greater independence and self-reliance in the post-partition era.