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Introduction

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A Study of the Sikh Kanya Mahavidyalaya

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Abstract

This chapter introduces women’s education in the nineteenth century focusing on initiatives of various stakeholders like missionaries, Indian social reformers and the colonial government. It then introduces the Sikh Kanya Mahavidyalaya (Sikh Girls College), the field of this study and exploration, providing a framework for the study to unfold along with details related to the field of study. A brief discussion on Sikh women in Punjabi society enables us to understand Punjabi culture (sabhyachar) in real and ideal ways. A review of related literature on women’s education helps to put the chapter in its proper context. The section on theoretical perspectives highlights how theories of Bourdieu, Bernstein, Woods and Foucault inform this study at different stages. The chapter concludes with a glimpse of the field along with a brief discussion on the methods used for collection of data.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Purdah refers to the practice of veiling of women after a certain age. The practice was not specific to Muslims but followed by other religious communities as well. In specific contexts, it might also mean the segregation of spaces between men and women.

  2. 2.

    Arya Samaj was a Hindu revivalist organisation which was very active in the Punjab region in the 19th and early twentieth centuries. The Arya Samaj was the first proselytizing movement among Hindus which was actively seeking converts. Naturally, Sikhs and other communities were wary of them. See Jones (2016).

  3. 3.

    The Sanatan Dharma Sabha ‘was the most prominent of the formal associations of orthodox Hindus established for the conservation of ancient Hindu religion by the Vedas, Puranas and other shastras’. The main objectives were ‘promotion and preservation of old orthodox Hinduism, establishing colleges to instruct modern education along with religious instruction’, among others. It was a call to return to ‘old faith’ of Hinduism (Chhabra 1965: 361–362).

  4. 4.

    An offshoot of Brahmo Samaj, Dev Samaj was established in Lahore with specific focus on reforming social and religious structure of Hinduism. The movement was critical of orthodox Hinduism and adopted ‘scientific evolution’ as the guiding principle of its path.

  5. 5.

    Generally signifying prosperous and well-educated women in the context of Bengal, regarded as members of a social class.

  6. 6.

    Generally understood as belonging to respectable, noble families; in the specific context of India would also mean belonging to upper caste families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Elementary Education, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Tripti Bassi

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Bassi, T. (2021). Introduction. In: A Study of the Sikh Kanya Mahavidyalaya. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3219-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3219-8_1

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