From Andarmahal to Schools

‘From Andarmahal to Schools’ examines the beginning and development of female education in Eastern Bengal in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries within the broader context of colonial modernity, patriarchy, and social change. It traces the growth of institutional and non-institutional forms of education, including the Zenana System.

This book challenges the prevailing view that British colonial intervention was the primary catalyst in shaping educational developments, and brings to light the local initiatives, socio-religious dynamics, and material constraints involved in the development of female education. Drawing on archival sources, it traces how female education progressed despite financial, cultural, and ideological resistance in a predominantly agrarian society.

By focusing on a historically neglected region, the book addresses a significant gap in existing scholarship and offers a revised understanding of the origins and trajectory of women’s education in Eastern Bengal.