Summary of Sanchali Sarkar's lecture

31/01

31. January 2020. 20:00

01/31

2020. January 31. 20:00 -

On 31st January 2020, the young Indian researcher, Sanchali Sarkar, now visiting lecturer at Basanti Devi College, Kolkata, presented a lecture at our department. Her presentation, which attracted audience from other universities as well, dealt with a very exciting topic and generated lively discussion. In the following, you can read the report of our BA students, Petra Kocsis and Bence Füstös.

In her presentation, Sanchali Sarkar examined one of the most interesting issues concerning modern Indian society through the example of the Matribhumi trains of West Bengal. The focus was on the “micro worlds” (i.e. the ladies’ compartments) which were created to prevent the violence against women. However, women face violence and agression in part from other women and this signals a very serious sociological issue. In this kind of compartments the hierarchy is still present, therefore in some cases a woman is denied the right to sit at her own place because of her social status, caste or appearance. Sanchali Sarkar brought to light an issue which few would be aware of, because aggression and violence is mainly considered by society as a masculine feature, especially in India. The lecturer was very prepared and she shared some very interesting thoughts about this relevant but rarely examined issue. Moreover, she brought her presentation closer to the audience by involving interviewees.