Indian Women Across Generations (Hardbound - 2005)

The book Indian Women Across Generations brings forth the life and predicament of women, including in its narration the discriminations and denials to them in the past as well as in the present in particular areas of activities. It attempts to chronicle the struggles and achievements of the generations highlighted through their experiences. The study derives much of its strength and sophistication from the basis of women’s experiences of oppression that they continued to experience daily and exclusions of various kinds.

The pain, anger, helplessness, and mental turmoil of women of the bygone eras; the anger, assertiveness of the present age — all put together created new identity for women. The book provides a wider perspective on the ‘roots’ of women’s lifestyles in general and interrelated development issues of women across five generations over a period dating back to a century 1900 to 2000 in particular. The focus is to assess the forces which goaded women to act against the currents of their times; the conditions which insulated them from society’s expectations giving them strength, energy, and a sense of destiny and determination to not to accept the conventional, or say pathetic and submissive female roles.

Women have come a long way since a century back though all development are not universally applicable. The book interestingly highlights the insights and challenges of Indian women belonging to different generations and different age groups.

This book will be an asset for those interested in Women Studies and an illuminating and provocative book for all others concerned with women issues.

Uma Narula is Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst USA. Dr. Narula is Director / Communication Consultant (Research & Training) with Communication Networks (CNET), New Delhi, India. She regularly conducts social and development research on national and international issues and provides communication training to corporate and academic groups. Dr. Narula has extraordinary research acumen and rare understanding of people and their emotions. These qualities helped her to draw out the nuances in perceptions of the five generations presented in the book Indian Women Across Generations.

She has authored six books: Mass Communication: Theory and Practice (1994), Development Communication: Theory and Practice (1994, revised 1999), Mass Communication Technologies: New Perspectives (2001), Communication Perspectives: Cultural Diffusion, Dynamic and Challenges (2001), and Yearnings (Fiction) (2003). She has also co-authored three books: Development as Communication (1986), Culture, Politics and Research Programs (1990), and New Communication Technologies in developing countries (1990).

She has a number of research publications and articles to her credit. She has been associated with a number of national and international research projects, teaching, and training since 1958.