KAMALA DEVI CHATTOPADHYAY, who is known for her participation in the Freedom Struggle of India as well as for having initiated and organised India’s cultural renaissance, is also one of the most effective constructive workers in India. In her recent book, she assails the usual interpretation - that the fairly progressive dejure position of women in India, as well as the high participation of women in the freedom struggle was entirely due to male social reformers and Gandhiji. It subtly shows that it was organised advocacy by women which influenced leaders including Gandhi. It has similar other new historical facts and the underlying philosophy that women’s struggle should be for a “total societal change”, and not for partial crumbs.