INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SPECIAL : STATUS OF INDIAN WOMEN : PEEPING PAST FOR POWERFUL FUTURE

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SPECIAL : 

STATUS OF  INDIAN WOMEN :

 PEEPING PAST FOR POWERFUL FUTURE 

(All the images are subject to IPR)

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता: ।
यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफला: क्रिया: ।।

अर्थ = जहां पर स्त्रियों की पूजा होती है, वहां देवता रमते हैं । जहाँ उनकी पूजा नहीं होती, वहाँ सब काम निष्फल होते हैं । 

Meaning: "Where Women Are Honored , Divinity Blossoms There; And Where They Are Dishonored , All Action Remains Unfruitful."

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

"The position of women in a society goes a long way in helping one to have real understanding of its innermost nature. It shows us what heights have been achieved by that society. Women are generally regarded as the weaker sex and human nature, being what it is , the temptation to underestimate them and ignore them. But still, if a particular nation or society is wise, just and liberal enough to treat them as equals and give them equal opportunities in all  respects, then that would really be a great point in its favour, a grand step in the forward march.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

From this point of view, India has always stood before the world as a great paradox. Very difficult to understand. Perhaps, this is why, there is a common belief  in the West that women in India occupied a very inferior position until the advent of the British and the introduction of English education. There are several critics in the West who are still misleading a good portion of the world and impressing upon it the degeneration and degradation of women that prevailed in India for centuries. The converts to this belief  curiously enough seem to fail in discerning the anachronism in this fallacious statements. It is indeed quite obvious that no country could have attained the height of civilization which India attained nor have given to the world the wealth of knowledge that she gave if her womenfolk had been kept down and denied equal opportunities and rights with her menfolk. Even a cursory glance over the history of India from Vedic times right down to modern day reveals a very different state of affairs from what these original historians try to make out to the world. 

In ancient period women wielded considerable influence in society and played significant role in various walks of life. They helped their husbands with their wise counsel in moments of crises, they did not hesitate even to take up arms to protect the life of their family and honour of their country. Since the ancient times there are numerous instances of queens successfully ruling their kingdoms. A wife was husband's companion in  weal and woe, mistress of the household and partner in all activities - temporal or spiritual.Women were free to attend and visit public assemblies and social gatherings.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

In fact no religious rite was complete without woman's presence. She was called "Ardhangini" pr the other half. In the economic sphere the husband and wife were the joint-owners of household and its property. At the time of marriage the husband had to take a vow that he would not impinge upon the interest of his wife in economic matters.

With the advent of Islam Hindu society became somewhat rigid in its attitude towards women. The terror unleashed by the martial Turks had an adverse effect on indigenous socio-religious structure. The Hindus were in a dilemma when powerful Muslims resorted to marrying their daughters forcibly. Some Hindus were forced to break their relationship with their daughters and sisters. But many heroic and courageous women preferred the burning pyre to this grip of unclean alien hands.Hindus were thus constrained by the situation to curtail the freedom of their women and also deny to them education. The system of early marriage originated due to this kind of development and hence Hindu girls were placed under the protection of their husbands at an early age.The system of purdah which was partly absorbed from the Muslim customs, practice of polygamy and unequal marriage which denied women the right to choose their life partners; and infanticide among girls because they began to be considered a burden on parents; these were the natural outcome of the new development. The fate of widows under strict moral sanction became particularly miserable.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Indeed the position of women had reached its lowest at the advent of the British rule from the point of view of literacy, health, individuality. social status, freedom of movement and economic independence.

Many social reformers surfaced up at the advent of British rule and contributed tremendously to the emancipation of women. No doubt, their approach and methods differed among themselves but all were one at the point that the women must be emancipated from the degeneration and degraded position, if India has to progress and prosper. These reformers were not introducing any new thing regarding the status of women but what  they did actually was their attempt to install the women to the position and status that was enjoyed by them in ancient days. Since the beginning of  our civilization women enjoyed a very high status in society, they were being regarded and respected, availing themselves of equal opportunity with men."

Excerpts from "RAJA RAMMOHUN ROY AND MAHATMA GANDHI: THEIR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN - A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE" [M.Phil Dissertation submitted in 1984 in Jawaharlal Nehru University by AJAY KUMAR (OJHA)]