Sambodhi 1983 Vol 12

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 88

Preparing the women for Decolonization : The Role of Gujarat
and literature, to spicad knowledge and to increase the rate of education.8 On the 5th January 1849 the society started the native library. In a scnsc thc socicly played very important role as an effective medium of social change
On the 2nd May 1849 th society started a newspaper published on cvery Wednesday named Vaitman' by Bajibhai Amin. In the 'Vartman dated 2nd July 1851 a para in connection with the jail adininistration was published. On the very point the government was displeased. One of the managing committee members Mr. Harison expressed his acute protest against Vatman'. 10
On the 1st April 1854 'Buddhi-prahash' was published by the assist. ance of the Gujarat Varnacular Society, 11 This Journal, among other things, published articles on lamale education and adult marriage. It also published articles in favour of widow remarriage. In a very true sense., the Buddhi prakash generated an ideological movement for the betterment of the Gujarati Women. On account of its inoderate and popular style the journal was very popular and it had a large circulation both in the urban and rural areas such as Broach, Junagadh, Dhandhuka, Kheda, Mahudha, Nadiad, Jambusar, Kapadvanj, Dholaka, Sadara, Petlad Mah. cmdavad, Rajkot and Baroda. Mostly the government school teachers were in charge of these agencies 12 In 1855 the well-kuown Gujarati poet Dalpatram was invited to join the position of 'Kaveeshvar' of the society. He was pro-British and praised the British raj. 13 Dalpatram wrote a poem regarding the rule of the uneducated ruler and he warned the native rulers that if they would not impove upon themselves they would be loosers. 14
Besides Buddhi prakash tried to spread the thoughts pertaining to the various kinds of refoons, 15 In this work they tried to get support from the native rulers.. This was indeed a major landmark in the history of social icform movement in general and women's liberation in particular. This was particularly in viuw of the fact that the native rulers of Gujarat, like their Indian counter parts were ignorant and backward looking people. It goes to the credit of Gujarat Varnacular Society that it was able to persuade the Raos and the Rajas and the Maharajas to utilize their financial and the State resources for the welfare of women. They now began to set up schools for the education of young girls. This was an inportant anticulouial battle from within the society itself. Gandhiji was later to do the same thing in his endeavour to fight away the British