Third Najma Chowdhury Memorial Lecture Delivered by UC Berkeley Professor Elora Shehabuddin
As part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka, hosted Professor Elora Shehabuddin of the University of California, Berkeley, for the Third Najma Chowdhury Memorial Lecture.
In her lecture, "Cultivating a Radical Imagination at the Grassroots: Communist Women’s Mobilization in Mid-20th-Century Eastern Bengal and Assam," Professor Shehabuddin explored the overlooked histories of women’s grassroots political mobilisation in mid-20th-century Eastern Bengal and Assam, highlighting their central role in communist and progressive movements. Through the lives of Hena Das, Ila Mitra, Pritilata Waddedar, Sufia Kamal, and others, she demonstrated how women shaped political struggles through courage, leadership, and activism. The lecture underscored the enduring legacy of these women in advancing social justice and women’s rights in the region.
The event brought together faculty members, scholars, researchers, and students from diverse disciplines, fostering engaging discussions and meaningful intellectual exchange.