PUNE: Differing from the traditional image of women as suppressed and vulnerable, Magsaysay and Padma Vibhushan awardee, novelist and social activist, Mahasweta Devi  on Monday said that women have been strong in their own right and have voiced their concerns whenever the time arose.

“Indian women have been a stable power in the society. They have come forward and have strongly expressed their views through the medium of literature. This has been evident in the works of 18thand 19thCentury Bengali literature,” Devi said.

She was speaking after releasing two volumes of literary compilation in English titled Women's Literature in Indian languages (1850-2000).

The Bharti Vidyapeeth in collaboration with Sahityapremi Bhagini Mandal, Pune have collaborated to release the books.

Devi further added that the British rule in India has proved to be a blessing in disguise, as it led to many women coming to forefront ," she said.

According to her,  even in modern age, there was no gender discrimination, especially amongst the tribals. There was more harmony amongst them in comparison to their educated urban counterparts.

“The tribals practice more equality. There is no discrimination or oppression of women. Birth of girl child is heartily welcomed,” she said.

 The publication is a comprehensive and critical review of the literary endeavours of women authors in India during the past 150 years and has been edited by reputed scholars comprising Manda Khandge, Neelima Gundi, Nishikant Mirajkar and Vidya Deodhar.  Five prominent women littérateurs Pratibha Ray (Bengali), Chitra Mudgal (Hindi), Dhirubai Patel (Gujarati), Volga (Telugu ) and Jyotsna Deodhar (Marathi) were  felicitated on the occasion.