“Gods reside where women are respected”
In the days of the epic age, women enjoyed a great respect among the people. They had an equal part in the administration m in warfare and in education. It is a well known fact that Kaikeyi the queen of King Dasharath, for their meritorious services. We are also not unware of lilavati who had been the pioneer for Indian astronomy. The wife of Mandan Misra defeated Shankaracharya in the Vedic discussions.
During the Muslim rule women were pushed into the back ground but there also the noble examples of Durgawati, Chand Bibi and Jijabai are exemplary. Many women poets like Mira Bai adorned our Hindi Literate. We can not also forget the bravery of Laxmi Bai, the “Rani” of Jhansi whose velour threatened great English generals in 1857.
Rani Laxmi Bai
It was Raja Ram Mohan Rai, who took up again the cause of Indian women during the early years of the 19th century, with whose efforts came the abolition of the “Sati System. It was due to his courageous work that Indian women dared to come out to Purdah.
The women of India played an important part in the freedom movement of 1920. 1934 to 1936 and 1942. Among the great Indian women. We can cite names of scores of ladies, but enough is to name some of them like Srimati Sarojini Naidu. Dr. Sushila Nayyar and Rajkumai Amrit Kaur.
Mahatma Gandhi Ji & Sarojiji
Now the position of women in free India is very secure. “Child marriage” and “Sati System” are things of the past. Purdah has been cast aside and now every girl of the school-going-age has to study. The Hindu law has given them also a share in father’s property. The widow marriage bill has also been passed.
Old and conservative heads are alarmed at these changes. They fear that ladies would give up household duties if they are given the liberty of doing whatever they like. Would give up household duties if they are given the liberty of doing whatever they like. They still hold the opinion that “Man is for the field and women for the hearth.” They must remember:-
The old order changeth yielding place to new.
And God fulfils himself in many ways.
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.
Indian women are marching shoulder to shoulder in every walk of life, but despite all the advances made by them, Indian women are ignorant and literate in great majority. In villages there is ignorance, literacy and superstition more in comparison to that of the cities. It is the duty of our government to make education compulsory to infuse in women the value of self-help and cottage industries. If India is become truly prosperous. Happy and civilized, she should pay special attention towards the improvement of the women class.