Urvashi Butalia & Ritu Menon (Kali for Women)

Early Life and Background

• Urvashi Butalia and Ritu Menon are renowned as the founders of Kali for Women, a pioneering feminist publishing house in India.
• Both were born in New Delhi, India, with Urvashi Butalia born in 1984.
• Prior to establishing Kali for Women, Urvashi Butalia worked with Oxford University Press and Zed Books, while Ritu Menon was a scholar.

The Founding of Kali for Women

• In 1984, Butalia and Menon identified a critical gap in the Indian publishing landscape: the lack of representation of women’s voices and perspectives.
• With limited capital but a strong commitment to feminist principles, they established Kali for Women – arguably the first Indian publishing house dedicated solely to publishing on and for women.
• Their vision was to publish academic works, activist writings, translations, and fiction that centered around women’s experiences in India.

Key Publications and Impact

• Kali for Women published several groundbreaking titles that challenged societal norms and sparked important conversations.
• Shareer ki Jankari ('About the Body'), a Hindi reference book written by 75 village women, was particularly impactful due to its frank discussion of sex, women’s bodies, and menstrual taboos. It was sold directly by the authors in villages at an affordable price.
• Other notable publications included Radha Kumar's The History of Doing (1993), Vandana Shiva’s Staying Alive (1988), and Kumkum Sangari & Sudesh Vaid’s Recasting Women: Essays in Colonial History (1989).
• They challenged the traditional academic publishing model by recognizing a market for affordable, accessible literature.

Artistic Development and Influences

• While not artists in the traditional sense, Butalia and Menon’s work was profoundly artistic in its impact on Indian literary and social landscapes.
• Their influence stemmed from a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and challenging patriarchal structures.
• They were influenced by second-wave feminism and global feminist movements, adapting these principles to the specific context of India.

Later Careers and Recognition

• In 2003, Butalia and Menon parted ways professionally.
• Urvashi Butalia founded Zubaan Books, which continues to publish feminist literature alongside fiction, general interest books, and children’s titles.
• Ritu Menon established Women Unlimited, another active publishing house focused on women's issues.
• In 2011, both Urvashi Butalia and Ritu Menon were jointly awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for their significant contribution to the nation through their work in feminist publishing.

Historical Significance

• Kali for Women played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Indian publishing, paving the way for other presses like Bhatkal and Sen (Stree & Samya) and Tulika Books to emerge.
• Their work contributed significantly to the growth of feminist scholarship and activism in India.
• They are remembered as trailblazers who courageously challenged societal norms and empowered women through literature.