Long description:

Through analysis of an impressive array of 'low' and 'high' Hindu literatures, particularly pamphlets, tracts, newspapers, and archival data, Gupta explores the emerging discourse of gender and sexuality, which was essential to the development of notions of Hindu communitality and nationalism in the colonial period. The book offers an exceptionally nuanced account of Hindi gender politics.

'...this is a good, solid and important work on Hindu identity and gender issues in North India. Once published, it is likely to attract - and merit - a lot of attention.' - Vasudha Dalmia, Professor of Hindi, University of California at Berkeley

'...this is an exceptionally interesting piece of work which should be published quickly as an excellent example of its genre.' - Chris Bayly, Vere-Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval History, Cambridge

'The author has shown most successfully how gender was central to the establishment of Hindu identity, how deep-seated were the separatist and communal developments which interacted with high politics to create the division of India...this is an outstanding piece of research...' - Francis Robinson, Professor of Indian History, Royal Holloway, University of London

'Charu Gupta, in this well-developed and extremely provocative work, turns the reader's attention to the role of gender...' - Leah Renold, Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History

Table of Contents:

INTRODUCTION Women, Caste, Class and Hindu Communalism REDEFINING OBSCENITY AND AESTHETICS IN PRINT Colonial Perceptions of Obscenity 'Obscenity' in Hindi Literature Indigenous Elite and Literary Concerns 'Dirty' Literature: Contesting the Logic of Morality? Brahmacharya, Kaliyug and the Advertisement of Aphrodisiacs SANITISING WOMEN'S SOCIAL SPACES Controls Over Entertainment The Danger of Prostitutes: The Moral and Urban Geographical Framework of Hindus MAPPING THE DOMESTIC DOMAIN Unstable Sexualities: The Sexual Politics of the Home Conjugality and Desire: The Power of Difference Fashion, Clothes, Jewelry, Purdah The Devar-Bhabhi Relationship Education and the Fear of Reading: Stated Aims, Unintended Consequences Gender, Health and Medical Knowledge From the Traditional Dais to Trained Midwives Child-care, Women's Health and Indigenous Practices Plague and Women's Honour THE ICON OF 'MOTHER': BHARAT MATA, MATRI BHASHA AND GAU MATA Mapping the Mother/Nation: The Bharat Mata Temple at Banaras Language Debates Hindi as 'Mother' Lewd or Chaste. Feminine or Masculine? The Cow as 'Mother' 'US' AND 'THEM': ANXIOUS HINDU MASCULINITY AND THE 'OTHER' From Malabar to Malkanas: The Shuddhi and Sangathan Movements Evoking Hindu Male Prowess, Community and Nation The Hindu Woman as Sister-in-Arms Conceiving the 'Other' Approaching the Muslim Woman Abduction Campaigns and the Lustful Muslim Male Innovative Propaganda Manipulation HINDU WOMEN, MUSLIM MEN Regulating Women by Fracturing Everyday Shared Spaces Economic and Social Boycott Attacking the Cult of Ghazi Mian Hindu Wombs, Muslim Progeny: Shifting Debates on Widow Remarriage The 'Problem' of Widows' Sexuality The Numbers Game SOME CONCLUSIONS AND BEYOND Elopements and Conversions: The Recuperative Possibilities of (Im)possible Love?