Keywords
Inner houses (andarmahal)
Societal changes,
Reformed dress,
Modernity
How to Cite
Abstract
This research paper examines the transformation of elite Bengali (Bhadramahila) women who were confined in the innermost part of their houses (andarmahal) due to the societal customs like sati, child marriage, purdah, illiteracy, widow-marriage etc of nineteenth century. At that time, the confinement of women inside of their houses was symbolised their seclusion and the deprivation of education was inclined them to took care of their families only. However, the advent of social and educational reforms of nineteenth century was marked a transformation in the lives of women. They were came outsides of their houses for education and engaged them in variousreformative activities. With these, a profound change was perceived in the lifestyle and clothing of Hindu women but the Muslim gentry was indifferent about it due to their religious backwardness. Thus, the modernisation process was started among the Muslim in early twentieth century. So, the present paper has attempted to show that how the ‘reformed dress’was influenced the Bengali women in general and the Muslim women in particular at that timewhen they were indulged much in search of their identity and how they accepted such changes.The paper has also emphasised the comparative study about the reform of dress and modernity to both the segments of society.
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