01-04-2014, 11:28 AM
Position of Women in India
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INTRODUCTION
Women in India have always been topics of concern since ancient times. They can be the appropriate example of perfect home-makers. With their incomparable quality of the calm ness of mind they easily handle even toughest situation as well. The Indian women are completely devoted to their families. They are preached in the names of Goddess Durga, Goddess Saraswati, Parvati and Goddess Kali.
From an unknown period in Medieval India to the modern times the condition of women is still the same with a little change. In India, the families are always `Patriarchal. Women were never given any rights of liberty and equality. The condition of women was so bad that if she gave birth to a girl child she was treated in a humiliated manner. Women were not only abstained from being educated but also were not permitted to step out of the house. They were asked to eat after their husbands have eaten and in fact were given to eat the leftovers of their husband`s meal.
Women in Ancient India
It is said that women in ancient India enjoyed equivalent status and rights with men in all spheres of life. Further, women were properly educated in the early Vedic period. References can be found in the works of Grammarians such as `Patanjali` and `Katyayana`. Women had the liberty to select their husbands. This system was called as `Swambar.` Women in fact had superior position than their male counterparts.
Women in Modern India
Modern India witnessed some developments in the status of women. There were many women reformers in India who worked for the betterment and upliftment of their other female counterparts. The begum of Bhopal discarded the `purdah` and fought in the revolt of 1857. Many reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotiba Phule with his wife Savitribai Phule, Ram Mohan Roy undertook various measures to eradicate social stigmas from the society. Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan established the Aligarh Muslim University for the spread of education among the Muslims. Among many the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856 was important. The education system was also elevated. English was introduced in this period. Various female English writers like Sarojini Naidu, Kamala Das made their presence felt in this period.