By Cameron Rogers<\/p>\n
Hood College professor Dr. Purnima Bhatt held a reception for her latest book on Tuesday, marking both the release of her third book and the conclusion of her last year teaching at the college.<\/p>\n
The book is entitled Her Space, Her Story and it focuses on the relationship between women, water, religion and architecture in India, all through the common motif of stepwells.
\nUnlike most wells, stepwells have ornately-designed staircases that allow people to walk into their recesses for water. Like many other Indian designs, the walls of stepwells are adorned with images of gods and goddesses.<\/p>\n
The reception began at 12:30 p.m. with light refreshments and an opening speech by Dr. Kiran Chadda, the head of Hood\u2019s multicultural affairs office.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Bhatt does not need an introduction,\u201d Dr. Chadda said. \u201cShe is one of our favorite professors on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout the reception, Dr. Bhatt described the results of 10 years of research on the topic, during which she connected recurring themes that would arise. The most common was that of the stepwells as a \u201cwomen\u2019s space\u201d where the disenfranchised could meet and talk about their lives.<\/p>\n
India has been a traditionally male-dominated society, from when the stepwells were constructed thousands of years ago to today. However, stepwells provided an escape for women, right down to the female-centered artwork on its walls. In fact, nearly one-fourth were built by women.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe art of the stepwells looks past the patriarchal designs of Hindu art,\u201d Dr. Bhatt explained. \u201cThe feminine principle is celebrated in stepwells. This is not about the male gods of Hinduism, but the females.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Bhatt presented a slideshow of images of stepwells while she spoke. Pictures ranged from women balancing pots on their heads on their way to wells, to the carvings on the stepwells\u2019 walls, to the current state of the wells themselves.<\/p>\n
In the British colonial era, the wells were closed for fear of the potentially-unsanitary water spreading disease. They fell into disuse until recent years, where women have refurbished the locations and reclaimed them as their space once more.<\/p>\n
On the current state of the wells, Dr. Bhatt said, \u201cThe stepwells are gone. They are not being used for water any more, but women are reclaiming them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The presentation tied into Women\u2019s History Month, which occurs every March. The theme of the 2015 celebration is called \u201cWeaving the Stories of Women\u2019s Lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that, even though it is in the 21st century,\u201d Dr. Chadda said, \u201cit is important to have reminders that equality is important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Bhatt concluded her speech and asked for questions at 1:30 p.m., and signed copies of her book. Her two other books are a guide on African Studies in Washington, D.C., and the memoirs of her late grandmother, who introduced her to the world of stepwells.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"