Class and Politics in 19th Century Bengal

Women's Studies in India ASHOK RUDRA's review of Women and Society (EPW, April 29) strikes us as superficial and prejudiced. What gets reflected in the review are the pre-conceived notions of the reviewer rather than a critical evaluation of the book, keeping in mind the context within which it was prepared, its focus, purpose and limitations. This is not to say that all material published in the name of Women's Studies should be accepted uncritically, but in the interest of constructive criticism it was necessary that the reviewer gave the book serious attention instead of summarily dismissing it with disparaging comments.