Women Education and Empowerment: Role of Bethune College (1879-1947) by Dr. Sweta Dey

This book traces the history of India’s oldest college i.e. the Bethune College. Although the British government and the patriarchy had shared a limited space for the education of women in the nineteenth century, but with the establishment of this college the demand for women’s higher education started to mature. Like every other pioneer institution, Bethune College too was beset with initial hurdles, but with the passage of time, it was hailed as an institution that was the ‘Cinderella of the Education Department’. This college had served India with its earnest endeavour. The students of this college had established their identities in every sphere of life like teaching, medicine, writing, singing, dancing, sports, acting and in many other professions. They motivated the women of India to be educated and empowered. The college provided her students not only with knowledge, but also with confidence and humanity, which moulded their character and moral building. The book is the outcome of research of many years and has dealt with many unfamiliar sides of this college in context of contemporary society.

Dr. Sweta Dey (b.1986) is a dedicated research scholar in the field of history of education of colonial India and Bengal since last fifteen years. She is a faculty member of the Department of History, Bangabasi Morning College, Kolkata, India. She is a visiting faculty in the Department of PGDBPS in the University of Calcutta. She is an internationalist seminarist. She has participated and presented papers in many national and international seminars and conferences. She has delivered a few invited lectures as well in renowned academic institutions. She had been a rank holder since her school days and her M. Phil dissertation on the history of Bethune College had topped the merit list in her batch from the Department of History, University of Calcutta.