Abstract: The paper "Unveiling the Voices: Women’s Political Thought in Colonial India, 1857-1947" examines the evolution of women's political thought and activism during British rule. Shifting the focus from male-dominated nationalist historiography, this study highlights the intellectual contributions of diverse women—reformists, revolutionaries, and socialists. Through letters, speeches, and periodicals, it analyzes how they articulated transformative discourses on governance, justice, and society. The research traces women's political consciousness from the post-1857 social reforms through the Swadeshi movement, Gandhian mobilizations, and the rise of feminism. It critically evaluates prominent figures like Sarojini Naidu, Begum Rokeya, and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, alongside lesser-known regional voices. Notably, the study incorporates an intersectional lens of caste, class, and religion. By unveiling these perspectives, the paper moves beyond dominant historical narratives to position women as active architects of modern Indian political thought.
Mousami Das (2026) studied this question.