Manohar Mouli Biswas

Four Dalit Women of Eighteenth Century Bengal

A Shift to Regional History: A shift to regional history has begun from the beginning of the last decade of twentieth century.1 Dalit literature and culture is stated to work in postcolonial India as an emerging new identity to rebuild society and is working as a most creative Marxism.2 It talks of the innovation of Dr B.R. Ambedkar who wanted to see the change in religious, social, political, economic and educational areas. He wanted the socialism in all these fields through ‘State Socialism’.3 This article expands the regional history of four dalit women of eighteenth century Bengal. The first case study shows the political consciousness to revolt against the East India Company rule which happened to commence in Bengal in the middle of the eighteenth century. The second case examines the thirst for education due to birth in an uneducated low caste family of that time. The third case study examines holy love for equality through the exercise of the Bhakti-cult movement of Vaishnavism in anyone’s personal life, while the fourth case examines religious mental oneness with gods and goddesses, particularly in someone’s devotion with Hindu goddess Kali. They all four were born in the lower strata of society. They are mentioned here in chronological order, serially: 1. Rani Siromani4 ( ? -1816) of Jangalmahal of Medinipur district; 2. Sulochana5 (1776-1866) of village Thakurkona of Mymensingh district; 3. Rami Dhopani6 (?-?) of village Saltora near Gangajalghati police station of Bankura district; and 4. Rani Rasmoni7 (1793-1861) of Kona village near Halishahar of 24 Parganas district.