Identifying the Earliest Indian Women's Autobiography

This question asks us to identify which of the listed autobiographies, written by Indian women, is the earliest. To answer this, we need to examine the approximate dates associated with each work.

Examining the Autobiographies

Let's look at the details for each option:

• Ramabai Ranade: Our Life Together (Original Marathi: Amchi Jeevan) - This autobiography was written by Ramabai Ranade, documenting her life with Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade. It is generally considered to have been written around 1910.
• Rasasundari Devi: My Life (Original Bengali: Amar Jiban) - This is a significant work by Rasasundari Devi. She began writing it in 1868 and completed it in 1876. It is widely recognised as the first full-fledged autobiography written by an Indian woman, although its publication occurred later in 1898. The key aspect here is the writing date, making it the earliest.
• Urmila Pawar: The Weave of My Life (Original Marathi: Aaydan) - This autobiography by Urmila Pawar, a prominent Dalit writer, was published much later, in 1988.
• Lakshmibai Tilak: The Memoirs of a Spirited Wife (Original Marathi: Smritichitre) - Written by Lakshmibai Tilak, the wife of Pastor Narayan Vaman Tilak, this work was published in parts between 1934 and 1936.

Comparing Publication and Writing Dates

Comparing the writing and publication timelines helps determine which autobiography is the earliest:

Conclusion on Earliest Work

Based on the writing dates, Rasasundari Devi's My Life (Amar Jiban), completed in 1876, stands out as the earliest autobiography among the options provided. While published later, its creation predates the other works listed.