View of the world through womens eyes

HYDERABAD: Anveshi Research Centre for Women’s Studies, Bhumika Women’s Collective and Asmita Resource Centre for Women are household names in the city when it comes to women help centres and research centres. The University of Hyderabad, St Ann’s College for Women and the Osmania University are some colleges that actually have a department for women’s studies and research. Adding to the list, the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University is setting up a Centre for Women’s Studies (Mahila Adhyayan Kendra) to help broaden research and study on women’s contribution to society.The department, inaugurated on Thursday, invited Chandana Khan, principal secretary of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan as the chief guest and DK Lalitha of Anveshi to deliver the keynote address. Says Prof C Mrunalini, director of the nascent department, “The idea for setting up a women’s centre has been there for almost ten years. I have been asking the past vice-chancellors to help set it up but it was only now that the current VC A Bhoomiah agreed to it. He, in fact, felt it was a necessity to have the centre.” Mrunalini, who has taken on responsibility of the centre besides her duties as director of Comparative Studies says, “The contribution of men to society is something that is very well documented but when it comes to women’s contribution, it is almost non-existent. Over here we will try to give the world view through a woman’s perspective. The college has a strong cultural understanding as we have departments in dance, music, history, literature, languages and theatre.” Talking about necessity of such a centre, vice-chancellor Prof Bhoomiah said, “I think my predecessors should be asked why none of them ever took up the idea. Funnily even women didn’t seem to take to it. A centre for women’s studies is encouraged by the University Grants Commission and it seemed only natural it should happen.” Activities and courses The department plans to expand its activities in phases. Due to lack of infrastructure, the centre will initially conduct seminars and workshops but expand into conducting short-term and long-term courses which require students to do project work, field work and dissertations and even a counselling centre in the long run. They will deal in domestic, tribal, Dalit issues and so on. The college will also bring out publications as part of the centre’s activities as the Telugu university is one of the few that actually publishes books besides their course content. “Once we get UGC recognition, formulating and implementing the centre will become easier. But before that we need an advisory board and basic infrastructure,” explains Mrunalini. After the UGC recognition, they will be eligible for receiving grants that amount to `5 lakh.Goals The women’s studies centre is designed to act as a catalyst for promoting and strengthening women’s studies through teaching, research, curriculum, field work, training and continuing education. It will also concentrate in areas of gender equity, economic and self reliance, girls’ education, population studies, women’s rights, laws, social exploitation and awareness. The centre will attempt to sensitise people to women’s contribution and situation.