ABSTRACT
In Chapter 8, Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach sets up a relation between two types of dialogue: the first type comes into play between premodern female santakaviyatrīs of the Maharashtrian Vārkari tradition and their god Viṭṭalā, who though physically absent was said to be moved through the devotion of his devotee to intervene in her life. Characteristic of this dialogue seems to be the deep bonding between such a santakaviyatrīs and her god such that he even understood, and was moved by, her role-based concerns as a female in premodern India. The second type of dialogue examined in the paper is between such santakaviyatrīs and contemporary Indian feminists, who look towards this tradition to ground their feminist concerns of female rebellion and independence. In setting up the latter type of dialogue in relation with its premodern counterpart, the Chapter explores: whether such an exchange can offer a meaningful exploration of the nature of dialogue itself; how the exchange can offer the possibility of a change; and whether such an exchange can be instructive in dealing with the concerns of modern Indians today.
