Sudakshina Sen was born in a village in undivided Bengal in 1859 in an upper caste Hindu family. Her autobiography "Jiban Smriti" gives us a glimpse into the Brahmo way of life. A large number of Hindu men and women gave up their Hindu religion, and embraced Brahmo religion, founded by Raja Rammohan Roy. Consequently they were ostracised by the conservative zHindu society that was ridden with maladies due to the diktats of h8gher caste or Kulin men. Child marriage, polygamy, stringent and inhuman rules pertaining to widowhood, along with absence of education, vountless superstitions and stigmas, in particular made life extremely difficult for women.Sudakshina's father, although a high caste Brahmin was a sensible and compassionate man, who forbade widows from observing fasts on ekadashi. After his untimely death Sudakshina's mother Nityakali decided to become Brahmo as her late husband had asked her to educate their daughters and not marry them off early. When Sudakshina's brother was forced into an early marriage due to societal pressure, she was even more determined to abandon the Hindu way of life. That is how Sudakshina, like other Brahmo women 'stepped into light from darkness' as she describes the new life.
Her book is a historical document that captures the nuances and intimate details of Brahmo life . She also spoke of the enlightened Brahmo leaders like Keshab Chandra Sen, Shibnath Shastri among others. Sudakshina Sen's autobiography was published after her death as per her wish. She passed away in 1934 in Calcutta.
Research & Presentation : Sudeshna Basu
Camera : Sudeshna Basu
Editing: Arun Mandal
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