(1895) is one of the pioneering works of Indian English fiction. Despite its brevity, it is an important text in the history of Indian English literature for it forcefully underlines the need to educate girls from high-caste Hindu homes. The novella was written by the Maharashtrian social reformer Shevantibai M. Nikambe (1865–19??) who was a Christian convert from the Brahmin caste, the highest caste in the Hindu socio-religious order. The novella belongs to the earliest phase of modern Indian writing, when social reform was a primary objective of the writers. Thus it is no surprise that the focus of most such novels was the condition of women in contemporary society.
Ratanbai, the protagonist of this rather simple tale, is an
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Citation: Alexander, Ashish. "Ratanbai: A Sketch of a Bombay High Caste Hindu Young Wife". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 January 2020 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=39036, accessed 27 December 2024.]
