In her autobiography, a Dalit woman recounts how she became a Sanskrit teacher. Which reason is suggested for her being drawn to the study of Sanskrit?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → It was a means to break into a field closed to her by gender and caste
Option (1) It would improve her family's position in the local caste hierarchy — Incorrect. A better position in the local caste hierarchy is the usual effect of Sanskritisation for a whole group. Her story is about one woman entering a field of study on her own.
Option (2) Her family had grown wealthier and wished to adopt higher-caste ways — Incorrect. Growing wealth and the wish to copy higher-caste ways describe the general basis of Sanskritisation. Her account speaks only of barriers of gender and caste.
Option (3) Her university head of department encouraged Dalit women to study it — Incorrect. Her University head of department in fact took great pleasure in taunting Kumudtai. Her early interest began at school with her teacher Gokhale Guruji.
Option (4) It was a means to break into a field closed to her by gender and caste — Correct. Kumud Pawade suggests she was drawn to Sanskrit perhaps because it was the means to break into a field closed to her on grounds of gender and caste. A second reason given is to read in the original what the texts say about women and Dalits.
NCERT (2026-27): “Sanskritisation … |