On Thursday, March 12, International Women’s day was celebrated with Friendship Historian and Assistant Professor of History at the University of Wyoming, Farida Begum, in UW Eau Claire Centennial Hall to share the significance of friendship in feminist activism.
Begum presented the history of South Asia and shared the important social connections between three revolutionary women in Bengal, Bina Das, Kalpand Datta and Pritailata Weddendar, who challenged government action during the British reform in the 1930s.
These revolutionary women met at Bethune College and established the Chatril Sangha (association of female students) in 1928.
This organization assisted their meaningful impact in the country’s time of crisis. Schools were crucial spaces for information sharing between women in the 1920s.
Begum said she defined friendship as consistency between people, adding that it is also the acceptance of otherness that bonds humans together.
“I never expected to become a historian about South Asia,” Begum said. “I was just taking a class and thought ‘This was fun, I want to learn more.’”
Begum said she shares interest in a variety of subjects. At the University of Wyoming she teaches classes crossing distance and disciplines such as, tea, coffee, coca cola, Bollywood and fashion history.
“The fact of the matter is, there is just so much history. there [are] many different places, and we can’t expect everyone to know everything,” said Begum.
International Women’s day started as a labor movement but over the years has transformed into a celebration of the progress and the future for women.
According to the International Women’s Day Organization, “We recognize the strength of every woman. We believe that together we can – WE WILL – fulfill the century-old vision of the International Women’s Day Founders to stand firmly together as we do all we can to create a better, more peaceful world.”
Sarita Mizin, faculty director of the Rose-Marie Intersectional Women’s Center (IWC) and Assistant Professor of English, said the IWC’s main mission is to provide and educate the campus and community.
“We’re one location, but our partners are all over Eau Claire, all over campus, and everything we do is in collaboration with someone else to make sure that we’re always in touch with our community,” said Mizin.
Mizin described Begum as a “professional friend” as their friendship brought this event to life.
Begum said she is in the process of creating a book called ‘A Friend of One’s Own.’
This book will highlight the time frame of roughly 1905-1965 and explain the connections between people in the Bengal region. She also said she is focusing on the idea of who gets to write history.
To follow up on Farida Begum’s research you can check her profile page for the University of Wyoming.
Hattie Goethals can be reached at [email protected].
