In early Indian feminist writing, who was the author of the Marathi work "A comparison between Woman and Men"?

Introduction / Context:
"A comparison between Woman and Men" is a pioneering Marathi text in the history of Indian feminist thought, written by Tarabai Shinde in the nineteenth century. It is often cited as one of the earliest critiques of gender inequality in colonial India. This question checks whether the candidate can correctly attribute this important work to Tarabai Shinde, distinguishing her from other women leaders and writers such as Pandita Ramabai and Sarojini Naidu, who contributed in different ways to social reform and literature.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title is "A comparison between Woman and Men".
• The work is an early feminist critique in Marathi.
• The options are Pandita Ramabai, Sarojini Naidu, Tarabai Shinde and Rameshwari Nehru.
• We assume the learner knows basic facts about major women reformers and writers in modern India.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested is matching a specific early feminist text to its author. Tarabai Shinde wrote this pamphlet as a bold response to social double standards in nineteenth century Maharashtra. While Pandita Ramabai and Sarojini Naidu were also important figures in women's history, they wrote different works and operated in somewhat later contexts. Identifying Tarabai Shinde as the author shows awareness of the deep roots of feminist discourse in Indian languages beyond English.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognize that the title directly addresses comparison between women and men, suggesting a critique of patriarchal practices. Step 2: Recall that Tarabai Shinde, a nineteenth century Marathi writer, authored a booklet with this exact theme, criticizing social hypocrisy around morality and gender. Step 3: Consider Pandita Ramabai, who wrote "The High Caste Hindu Woman" and other works, but not this particular title. Step 4: Remember that Sarojini Naidu was primarily a poet and political leader whose famous works include English poetry collections, not this Marathi critique. Step 5: Note that Rameshwari Nehru was an activist and leader but not the author of this specific text. Step 6: Based on these associations, identify Tarabai Shinde as the correct author.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by recalling standard references on the history of feminism in India, where authors frequently cite Tarabai Shinde and her work "Stri Purush Tulana", which translates to "A comparison between Woman and Men". References to this text appear in university syllabi on gender studies and modern Indian literature. The names Pandita Ramabai and Sarojini Naidu appear alongside other works, confirming that this particular title belongs only to Tarabai Shinde and reinforcing the choice of option C as correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Pandita Ramabai was an important reformer and writer but her landmark book is "The High Caste Hindu Woman", not "A comparison between Woman and Men", so option A is incorrect. Sarojini Naidu is renowned as the "Nightingale of India" for her poetry and political role, but she did not author this Marathi feminist work, making option B wrong. Rameshwari Nehru contributed to social and political causes but is not associated with this specific title, so option D is incorrect. Only Tarabai Shinde in option C matches the actual authorship.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent pitfall is to assume that any well known woman reformer might be the author of any early feminist text, leading to guesses based on fame rather than careful recall of titles. Another error is to overlook regional language contributions and think only of English works. To avoid such problems, candidates should make a mental note that "Stri Purush Tulana" or "A comparison between Woman and Men" is specifically linked to Tarabai Shinde in Marathi, just as "The High Caste Hindu Woman" is associated with Pandita Ramabai. These precise linkages help in answering several related questions more accurately.

Final Answer:
Tarabai Shinde