Abstract:
Mallika may be regarded as the first woman writer of Hindi in 19th century north India since nothing much is known about women writing of that time yet.Though she was a Bengali, she came to Banares and settled there. It is said she was a child widow brahmin and she became a companion of renowned Hindi writer Bhartendu Harishchandra. She has written three short novels and transcreated three Bangla novels in Hindi. she wrote some lyrics in Bangla aswell.
Her writing anticipates almost all issues which have been raised by women writers later in 20th century Inequality, discrimination, unequal marriage child marriage, polygamy dowry and patriarchal mindset are some of the issues which frequently come up in her writings.
There are instances of women as poets in north medieval India but these woman poets are usually bhaktas or courtesans. Mallika's writing represents a break from this tradition and constitutes a new departure. Raj has attempted to retrieve her writings to highlight her significance as the first woman writer of Hindi in 19th century north India.
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