Tarabai Shinde

A pioneering Indian feminist who challenged caste and gender norms in 19th-century colonial India.

Tarabai Shinde (1850–1910) authored Stri Purush Tulana (A Comparison Between Women and Men, 1882), a radical critique of patriarchy and caste in Maharashtra. Written in Marathi, this essay condemned the double standards faced by women, especially widows, and questioned Brahmanical orthodoxy.

Her work emerged during the Social Reform Movement, decades ahead of mainstream feminist discourse. Tarabai argued that men, not women, were morally inferior—a bold reversal of traditional narratives. Despite backlash, her text resurfaced in the 1970s as a foundational document for Indian feminism.

• Influence: Inspired later activists like Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule.
• Modern Relevance: Cited in postcolonial and subaltern studies.

Shinde’s life remains shrouded in mystery, but her legacy endures through translations and academic rediscovery. Her courage to speak against intersecting oppressions makes her a groundbreaking figure in South Asian history.