Govardhanram s Women

Sonal Shukla The works of Govardhanram Tripathi had a significant impact on the expanding middle class nineteenth and early twentieth century Gujarat. His revivalist ideas and his protests against the arrogant cultural invasion of the colonial masters as projected in his writings etched out the ideals for the newly educated young man and for his wife. Govardhanram's central theme was the conflicts faced by a young male graduate. The ideal wife whether she belonged to a wealthy influential family or hailed from a traditional background and was uneducated, was one who would manage the house skilfully, and even in adversity remain witty and cheerful. It is in order to fulfil this role that a girl was to be educated. These models have remained popular to this day and every woman in the middle class is expected to be something of Govardhanram's heroines.