SOAS Research Online

A Free Database of the Latest Research by SOAS Academics and PhD Students

[skip to content]

Menon, Parvathi (2023) 'Vijayalakshmi Pandit: Gendering and Racing against the Postcolonial Predicament.' In: Tallgren, Immi, (ed.), Portraits of Women in International Law: New Names and Forgotten Faces? Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 244-252.

[img] Text - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only until 10 May 2025.

Request a copy

Abstract

Subjected to both the male and Orientalist gaze at the United Nations, its ‘first female’ President, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, embodied the paradox of many colonial elites in India: a British-influenced upbringing combined with radical anti-colonial pursuits. Donning a saree and speaking English fluently, her disposition gave the British and Americans the impression of easy access, while the Soviets wished to channel her anti-imperialist vision to form an Eastern alliance. Straddling between the East and the West, Pandit championed Third-Worldism tactically, even as she drew the ire from her counterparts who found her unbecomingly moderate.

Item Type: Book Chapters
Keywords: Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Third Worldism, race, Cold War, internationalism, political equality
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > School of Law
ISBN: 9780198868453
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198868453.003.0019
Date Deposited: 22 Feb 2024 09:53
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/41462

Altmetric Data

Statistics

Download activity - last 12 monthsShow export options
Downloads since deposit
6 month trend
3Downloads
6 month trend
45Hits
Accesses by country - last 12 monthsShow export options
Accesses by referrer - last 12 monthsShow export options

Repository staff only

Edit Item Edit Item