Essays

Since independence there has been much improvement in the lot of women in India. The women of India who form 50% of the population have equal opportunities and rights and can aspire for any position and status in the society. Many of them are in top positions in various fields of life.  A few of them have been great and big   political   leaders,   entrepreneurs, administrators and business persons.

This marked change in their outlook, social and economic status reflects the fact that their emancipation has been almost complete. It is a fact that Indian women have much better status than their counterparts in many other developing countries.

Today women in India are well conscious of their rights and privileges and they are politically, socially, economically and educationally no more backward. Their participation in democratic process and elections has been quite impressive. In a large number of constituencies women voters outnumber men voters on the days of polling.

They are contesting elections on various levels in far greater members. Their political wisdom and social sagacity has now been fully recognized. The status of women in India in modern times has undergone a sea change.

During the last few decades India has produced many great women leaders, social workers, administrators, reformers and literary personalities like Mrs. Annie Besant, Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Mrs. Sucheta Kripalani, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Raj Kumar Amrit Kaur, Padmaja Naidu, Mother Teresa, Mahadevi Verma, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Amrita Pritam etc.  India really feels very proud because of these great women and their great achievements in various fields of our life.

Their contribution in the fields of art, science sports etc. has also been equally significant and memorable. Their active participation in our various social, political, economical, educational, scientific and other nation-building activities as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters has been of vital importance in taking the country to greater heights of achievements and fulfillment.  And yet there is no room for any complacency.

A working woman helps her husband by bringing additional income, but as a housewife she has no help from her husband. Men regard household chores below their dignity and so never help women in their household-work. Thus, women are doubly burdened, which often causes tension, maladjustment and family problems.

There is much to be done towards emancipation of women in India. They are still subdued and dominated by men and cannot assert their equality as desired in every walk of life. In a number of our states there still exists child marriage, but widow marriages are not allowed. Girls are still given away in marriages against their will.

Then there is dowry system. Poor parents cannot afford to give dowry and so are obliged either to keep their daughters unmarried or give them away in marriages to unmatched husbands. In spite of equal status of women granted by our law, the women are discriminated against.

The vast gap between theory and practice is too obvious not to be noticed. Women, especially in rural India, still find themselves weak, helpless and exploited. The rate of literacy among them is quite low. Sometimes they are treated no better than commodities.

They are still confined to the four walls of a house engaged in the household drudgery. They have been forced by arrogant men to play a totally subordinate role because they are economically and socially not self-dependent.

This has been further helped by our old, outdated and conservative customs. Their hard work and toil as housewives and working-women, though significant enough to run a household and family, still go unrewarded and unrecognized.

The present status of women in India has to be further consolidated and improved. It cannot be achieved unless women themselves come forward and organize themselves as a power to be reckoned with. They should stop thinking in terms of weaker sex.

They should rise as one powerful body and fight the menace of dowry and child-marriage. They should fight tooth and nail wherever there is their abuse, exploitation, humiliation and injustice. They should raise their voice in unity against all social evils and male arrogance. They should wage a relentless war against "apartheid of sex".

Indian women are intelligent, hard-working, courageous and full of love, pity, and compassion. With all these qualities of head and heart they are quite competent in shattering all the bondages that bound them in traditional subordination and slavery.

Endowed with the qualities of beauty, love, strength, tolerance, sacrifice, creativity etc. they can do wonders for themselves and for others.

In the present day Indian world they can further consolidate their position and redefine their relationship with men based on equality and mutual respect by using their strengths more wisely. It is of no use to curse and bemoan their fate as weaker sex and housewives. They should unite and struggle against injustice, discrimination, illtreatment, abuse and exploitation. Much really depends on women themselves. The future of women in India seems bright but it is women themselves who can ensure it by being vigilant alert and united.

They will have to raise their voice against any violation of their rights and privileges. It is said that God helps those who help themselves and it is equally true in case of the equality and liberty of women in India.