Our Pictures, Our Words

Vibrant, dynamic, spirited and forceful. The contemporary women’s movement in India, which began in the late 1970s, protested against the dark times, violence and misogyny. It also flamboyantly celebrated liberation, solidarity among women and a joyous breaking of the shackles of patriarchy. It sang, performed and painted to draw attention to the burning issues of the time. Quite literally: dowry death, widow immolation, acid throwing and rape. Over the past three decades, the women’s movement has matured and broadened to include a gamut of issues related to women’s health, sexuality, the environment, literacy, the impact of religion and communalism on women’s lives, political participation, globalization, displacement, labour rights, disability rights, class and caste issues, and so many more. Indeed, feminism meant looking at the world through women’s eyes.

This book constructs a pictorial journey of the complex and multilayered campaigns for women’s rights through its posters. Other forms of visual representation such as drawings, pamphlets, reports, brochures, stickers, wall writing and photographs have also been included. The posters reproduced here are part of Zubaan’s Poster Women project, which has attempted to locate and archive as many posters as possible to be able to visually map the women’s movement and its concerns. The Poster Women archive can be accessed at www.posterwomen.org.