Why is ‘feminist’ a label that some liberal, emancipated women recoil from? Why is feminism often associated with aggressive women who disrupt social norms and harmonious families? This book brings together the writing of prominent Indian academics and activists as they debate the issue in the context of Indian culture, society and politics, and explore the theoretical foundations of feminism here. The inevitability of the association with western feminism, the status of women in colonial and independent India, and the more recent challenges to Indian feminism posed by the tide of globalisation and the upsurge of the Hindu Right in Indian politics are discussed at length. This collection will be invaluable to those interested in a succinct overview of Indian feminism.