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language and literature, rather than as crucial elements to her argument. As such, these passages seem to distract the reader (especially in translation) from her larger argument. It is only in these circumstances that the translators have chosen to omit these quotations. Additionally, Mahadevi shifts subjects from the singular to the plural quite often, and while the translators have made every attempt to honour the original, for clarity, we have had to make a choice between the singular and plural. This is most striking in her use of “woman” and “women”.
The Hindi original of these essays, with the exception of “Adhunik Kavi”, which is a long introduction to an anthology of poems by the same name, can be found in Mahadevi Sahitya Samagra (volume 3, edited by Nirmala Jain, New Delhi: Vani Prakashan, 2000). Some of these essays, especially those from Mahadevi Varma’s Hamari Shrinkhala Ki Kariyan collection, have been translated by Neera K. Sohoni and published under the title Links in the Chain (Katha, 2003). It is our hope that this book will introduce Mahadevi Varma’s literary scope to an English-speaking audience, and serve as a reference for feminist historians of the nationalist period in the Indian subcontinent, by bringing into the debate on the role of women in the struggle for freedom another active voice and a different perspective.