SHASWATHI

Shaswathi  is the culmination of a vision to present to the world the intrinsic qualities and achievements of Indian women. The most significant aspect of Shaswathi is that it foregrounds the virtue of those women who are either not recognized or considered seriously by mainstream anthropologists, sociologists ,historians,art critics and museum curators who , generally speaking, pre occupy themselves only within certain class and kind of individuals. What Shaswathi does , apart from bringing together the creative expressions of gifted women artists,  to give a significant place to those women and their equipments that never crossed the threshold of the kitchen. In this sense, Shaswathi successfully draws such women and their equipments out of the dark lanes of history and showers on these their attentions and respect of the contemporary word.

Shaswathi represents the concerns of all those who respect women equally without privileging those who are fortunate enough to express themselves creatively in the past where prejudices against women went unchallenged. Shaswathi is the unique heritage museum that respects even the quotidian details of most women who could not manage to enter the mainstream. By displaying artifacts of all kinds together, ranging from house utensils to very creative articulations, this heritage museum brings one face to face with the diverse aspects of the lot of women of the past and the present. shaswathi is the sanskrit name suggestive of an eternal spirit. It also happens to be one of the names of Parvathi who is the consort of Shiva, one of the main deities of the Hindu trinity. The name also helps us travel back in time and space by shaping a meeting between us and the great women philosopher of the vedic times , Shaswathi , the Brahmavadini. The simultaneity of consciousness established between the past and the present helps in dissolving many prejudices about the past. Shaswathi was established in 1974.

THE LINEAGE OF INSPIRATION
Buried in the darkness of the past and the blinded by the dazzle of the present was Nanjanagudu Thirumalamba ,a child widow who fought all traditional biases and conflicts to emerge as the first women writer, journalist, and social worker of karnataka of the twentieth century. Thirumalamba was confined to oblivion until the second half of the century and her discovery there after was obsolutely serendipitous.Shaswathi was conceived of as a tribute to the glorious achievements of Nanjanagude Thirumalamba and the countless number of women who have been consigned to obscurity.

The museum in fact a complex that also contains charts, diagrams and other reference sources that open up the world of women dancers, musicians, sculptors and writers.

THE EMBLEM
The emblem of Shaswathi is a piece of rare rose wood craft depicting the kamadhenu,venerated in Indian mythgology as a divine cow with the wings of a bird and face of a women. The wings symbolise her divine origin and the face coveys motherly love and affection. Kamadhenu is the eternal mother,creator and preserver. The emblem of the museum personifies the essence of womenhood.

THE PATRONS
Shaswathi has the patronage of the Rashtriya Shikshana Samithi Trust, established in 1942, widely known for its boundless generousity.The museum is located centrally in the campus and is supported by the trust that is headed by eminent educationists, industrialist and entrepreneurs of diverse hues.

THE EXIHIBITS
Shaswathi exhibits include old Mysore style paintings,Dolls, Photographs, Household utensils,Crochet works, Cradles,Needle Machines, Pots and Pans, Sewing Machines, Books, Manuscripts, Models, Garments, period Furniture Clocks, Paintings, Art and Craft pieces, Gramophone records, Sati Stones, Spinning Wheels and many other artifacts.There are several motifs representing various social and religious movements given by the artists themselves.

FUTURE PROJECTIONS
The museum is designed to constantly expand its dimensions.It  has established itself as the center for women’s studies and is a complimentary wing of the department of women’s studies of the college the museum has nurtured a documentation center too. The coordination between the museum and the department of women’s studies integrates onthropology,history,literature and the fine arts. Besides , the library services offered are first rate and provide theoretical support at the highest level.

THE AWARDS
Shashwathi has instituted the following awards by way of recognizing outstanding achievements of women in various fields.

THE NINJANGUDE THIRUMALAMBA AWARD
The award is given to the best book by contemporary women writer. All the Indian languages are taken in to considerations with due respect to the spirit of the constitution of the country.The award comprises an icon of Kamadenu and amount of RS.20,000/-

THE SADODITHA AWARD
Theoretical works for all kinds of women scholars of Karnataka are considered of this ward and carries an amount of Rs. 10,000/-

THE KARNATAKA KALPAVALLI AWARD
Outstanding socio-political contributions from women who belong to Karnataka are considered while giving this award which carries an amount of Rs.5000/-.

THE GARGI AWARD
Instituted in the name of the Late.Dr.C.N.Mangala,the former director of Shaswathi and the first principal of this college, this award  is presented to the outstanding women teachers of kartnataka and carries an amount of Rs. 5000/-.