Project Title: Creation of Women’s Question in Colonial India: A Critical Overview of Orientalist and Anglicist Views
Field Investigator: one Post (Contractual Post)
Duration: 2 Months
About the Study
This research project examines how the ‘women’s question’ was constructed in colonial India within Orientalist and Anglicist/liberal-colonial discourse. Orientalist scholars treated classical Sanskrit texts as the authentic representation of Indian culture, translating and interpreting them in ways that produced a particular image of the ‘Hindu woman’. Anglicists challenged Orientalist romanticisation of ancient India and portrayed Indian society as inherently patriarchal and uncivilised, using women’s subordination (sati, widowhood, child marriage, lack of education, etc.) to legitimise colonial rule.
The project undertakes a systematic textual reading and discourse analysis of key Orientalist and Anglicist writings on Indian women, comparing them with later feminist and postcolonial critiques, and aims to produce a comprehensive monograph on the colonial construction of the ‘women’s question’.
Essential Qualifications
- Post Graduate in Social Science, especially in History, Gender/Women’s Studies, and Archival Studies.
- The research staff needs to have a deep understanding of colonial India, nationalism, and women’s issues during the 20th century.
- Demonstrated academic familiarity in these areas:
- Colonial India and social reform debates
History of the women’s question in colonial India
Orientalism, Anglicism and colonial knowledge systems
Experience with archival / library research (catalogues, microfilms, digital archives). - Strong reading and writing skills in English, with the ability to read dense academic texts.
- Good proficiency in Hindi, especially for academic writing and translation-oriented work (the final output will be in Hindi).
Roles and Responsibilities
- Assist in locating, collecting and organising primary sources, including:
- Conduct library and archival work (digital and/or in-person), especially in Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library (formerly NMML) and the National Archives of India (as required).
- Close reading of English source texts; preparing detailed notes and summaries
- Identifying key concepts, metaphors and narrative patterns in colonial writings on women
- Helping prepare draft sections (in Hindi/English) based on detailed instructions.
- Perform any other research-related tasks required for smooth progress of the project.
Candidates from SC/ST and OBC communities and women are highly encouraged.
The applicant must commit to work full-time for the mentioned duration.
Remuneration – Salary is Rs.20000/- per month Consolidated; fieldwork traveling will be covered.
Application Process: Interested individuals can send their updated CVs to vijay@cwds.ac.in
Last date of application: 25 December 2025
Only short-listed candidates will be invited for an online interview.