Kali for Women was a start-up
feminist
Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...
publisher in India.
Urvashi Butalia and
Ritu Menon set up Kali for Women in 1984, arguably the first Indian publishing house dedicated to publishing on and for women. When they decided to take this step, Butalia had worked with
Oxford University Press and
Zed Books in Delhi, while Ritu Menon was a scholar. They started with very little capital but with an urgent sense that they had to make Indian women's voices heard, through academic publishing and activist works, translation and fiction. They were followed by other Indian presses concerned with gender and social issues, such as
Bhatkal and Sen
Bhatkal & Sen is a publishing partnership between Mandira Sen and Popular Prakashan. The company is based in Kolkata and publishes the imprints Stree and Samya. It is noted for publishing authors such as Kancha Ilaiah, Om Prakash Valmiki, Uma Cha ...
who publish the imprints Stree and Samya and
Tulika Books.
Publications
Widely regarded as India's answer to
Virago Press, Kali for Women published some pathbreaking titles, among them the Hindi reference book ''Shareer ki Jankari'' ("About the Body"). ''Shareer ki Jankari'' was written by 75 village women and sold by them at a special price in the villages. ''Shareer ki Jankari'' was extremely frank about sex and women's bodies including issues such as
menstrual taboo
There are many cultural aspects surrounding how societies view menstruation. Different cultures view menstruation in different ways. The basis of many conduct norms and communication about menstruation in western industrial societies is the bel ...
s, shocking some commentators. Till then academic presses had largely ignored the markets for cheap, mass literature. (See academic books by
Jyoti Puti.)
Kali for Women published
Radha Kumar's ''
The History of Doing
''The History of Doing: An Illustrated Account of Movements for Women's Rights and Feminism in India 1800–1990'' is a book by Radha Kumar.Patel, Tulsi. Sociological Bulletin: Reviewed Work: The History of Doing', vol. 44, no. 2, 1995, pp. 277 ...
'' (1993), the ecofeminist
Vandana Shiva's landmark work ''Staying Alive'' (1988), and
Kumkum Sangari and
Sudesh Vaid's landmark ''
Recasting Women: Essays in Colonial History'' (1989).
Corporate split
In 2003, the founders parted ways. Butalia set up
Zubaan Books
Zubaan Books is an imprint of Kali for Women, India's first feminist publishing house.
History
In 1984, Urvashi Butalia and Ritu Menon founded Kali for Women, India's first feminist publishing house. Its objectives were to publish quality work ...
in 2003, which besides feminist books also publishes fiction, general interest books and
children's titles. Menon founded Women Unlimited. The firms are active.
Award
In 2011, Urvashi Butalia and Ritu Menon were jointly conferred the
Padma Shri award, for their contribution to the nation by the
Government of India.
See also
*
Women in India
References
External links
Kali for Women at SpinifexWomen UnlimitedZubaan Books{{Authority control
Publishing companies of India
Feminist book publishing companies
Publishing companies established in 1984
1984 establishments in Delhi
Companies based in Delhi
2003 disestablishments in India