There are two main pillars of human life-man and woman. Both share equal responsibility in the making of society and
hence both are supplement to each other. But from the very beginning, there has been a big question mark on the status of women in our society. All talk of their role and responsibility but none care for their position. They have been exploited and ill-treated right from the beginning of the creation.
No doubt in the days of the epic age, women enjoyed great respect among people. Even in the great modern books their position remained respectable. In Manusmriti it has been said, 'God reside where women are respected' while in modern age Napoleon Bonaparte told, "The hands that rock the cradle rule the world."
But the reality is something else. Women have been put behind walls from ages. Sati Pratha is the bitter truth which shows to what extent our women folk has been exploited. Child marriage and a contemptuous attitude towards the widows are another examples of woman-exploitation. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the first who raised voice against these
unhealthy systems prevalent in Indian society. He took up the cause of the women and worked hard to abolish 'Sati Pratha.' It was due to his courageous work that Indian women dared to come out of Purdah. They got education which provided them opportunities to develop themselves at all levels. And in due course they surpassed the men. Today we see women in every field. They are marching shoulder to shoulder in every walk of life.
Apart from teaching school children, women are now pilots, receptionists, police officers, doctors, engineers etc. The
elevation in the status of the women sometimes creates confusion among us that Sita and Draupadi have born in the
same country.
The previous condition was due to the lack of education but now the spread of education among women has completely changed the scenario. They are occupying key positions in almost every field of society. Our country is progressing in this way no doubt. But sometimes it appears that over- exposure of women is a suicidal attack for our future. On the one hand we are not still ready to forget the image of Sita and Savitri and on the other we are tempted to watch the over- exposed movies on TV screen with the little kids of our family. Our modern progressive girls are imitating the fashion very fast which is still not acceptable in our society. As a result it creates a lot of problems and crime for which this over-exposure is responsible. It must not be provocative. We must allow women to stand by themselves but they should also be learnt our culture and civilization.
