Indian Sex Life: Sexuality and the Colonial Origins of Modern Social Thought

"Indian Sex Life: Sexuality and the Colonial Origins of Modern Social Thought" by Durba Mitra offers an in-depth analysis of the construction of sexuality during the colonial era in India. The book examines how British authorities and Indian intellectuals developed concepts of deviant female sexuality, particularly that of prostitutes, to control and organize modern Indian society. Mitra utilizes extensive archival materials from various disciplines to demonstrate how these ideas shaped not only the understanding of social progress and exclusion but also influenced central themes such as marriage practices, widowhood, inheritance, labor relations, and the dangers of gender ideologies. The work highlights the lasting impact of these colonial mindsets on contemporary society in South Asia and beyond.