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WOMEN AND SOCIETY IN THE POST INDEPENDENT INDIA

Dr.Selvamoni
Associate Professor in History, D.D.E, Annamalai University.

In the post –independent  India, with the spread of women’s gradual economic independent and the legislative measures adopted in favour  of them came to be recognized as  important, powerful, and meaningful contributors in the Indian society. During the British prior to Gandhiji’s intervention period women were considered a socially inferior species and kept in  a state of subjugation. Social evils in the Indian society such as female infanticide, child marriage, poor condition of widows, polygamy, purdah system, offering girls to the deity, illiteracy, practive of sati, dowry system  and devadasi system revolved  around women. There have been several attempts to improve women’s status in society. A number of social reformers initiated strong movements to improve  the status of women. Brahmo Samaj led by  Rajaram Mohan Roy opposed the practice of sati. Governor  General William  Bentinck abolished sati in 1829. Reformers like Dayananda Saraswathy, Vivekananda, Keshab Chandra Sen,Veerasalingam Pantulu, E.V.Ramasamy Naicker and others stressed women’s education. Women social reformers like Maharani Tapasvini, niece of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi took  interest in the education of girls  and worked for the cause of women’s education. Panditha  Ramabai realised the need for the education of women and children and founded Arya Mahila Samaj in Pune for giving education to women. Swarn Kumari Devi, sister of Rabindranath Tagore had the distinction of being the first Indian woman editor and she started a Ladies Association with an aim to promote women’s education.

Following them, Rani Shurnomoyee, Ramabi, Francina  Sorabji, Rani Lady Hurram Singh and Annie Besant worked for women’s education.1 During Gandhian era more women entered in to politics. Gandhiji listed equality of women as a priority item in his programmes. After independence, the Constitution of India made provision for the attainment of equal status for women in every sphere of life.The framers of the constitution which amongst others had prominent women like Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, Durgabai, Renuka Roy and  Malati Choudhry as its members were aware of the social disabilities and in-equalities that had exited and gave constitution to the country which conferred equal rights to all its citizens. By constitutional safeguards women have the right to acquire education to equip themselves for any work they chose to do. The framers believed that education is one of the main factors which help moment to attain higher status, economic independence, understanding about their social and legal rights2. Thus in all the nine Five Year Plans, the Government gave more importance to women’s education.The First Five Year, 1951-56, was mainly welfare oriented as far as women’s issues were concerned. The Second Five Year Plan,1956-61 focussed in organising Mahila Mandals  at the grass root level. The Third, Fourth and the Interim Plans convering the period, 1961-74, accorded high prority to women’s education. The Fifth Five Year Plan, 1974-78, witnessed a shift in approach from welfare to development of women. The Sixth Five Year Plan, 1980-85, adopted a multi disciplinary approach with a three prolonged thrust on health, education, and employment of women. The objective of raising their economic and social status and bringing them into the mainstream of national development was further enlarged during the Seventh Plan. The Eight Plan,1992-97, envisagaed that benefits of development from different section, do not by pass women3. It also recommended 30% reservation for women in Legistures is still going on in the Parliament.

The Women’s Welfare and Development Bereau under the Ministry of  Social and Women’s Welfare become part of the new department and continues of function as the nodal agency for the advancement of women. In 1990, the National Commission for women was set up by an Act of Parliament. In 1993 Constitutional Reservation of one- third seats for moment in the rural and urban local bodies were given. This not only bestowed a right of participation to women in the decision making process on matters of direct concern to them, but also helped to facilitate the emergence of  a cadre of young and trained leadership for active participation in the political process at higher levels4.

Through various legislation too the status of women came to be recognised.

  1. The Special Marriage Act, 1954 was the first major step and it curbed Child Marriage by legislation. It fixed 21 and 18 being the age of consent for males and females respectively.
  2. The Child Marriage Restraint Act was passed in 1976 by which Registration of Marriages is an effective check in Child Marriages and is also a proof of marriages being solemnized.
  3. Sati Prevention Act was also passed in 1987.
  4. Polygamy has almost disapeared after the enactment of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, but it is still permitted under the Muslim Law.
  5. Dowary Prohibition Acts were passed in 1961, 1984 and 1986.
  6. Widow-hood is a curse for Indian women. It is still considered inauspicious in all societies. Though Widow Remarriage Act was passed as early as 1856, there is no appreciable change in their life. They live in a state of destitution.
  7. The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act,1956 has special provisions which benefit women. A husband cannot give or adopt a child without the consent of the wife while a woman can adopt a child if she is unmarried, widowed or divorced.
  8. The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 empowered the Hindu women to inherit property.
  9. Marriage Act, 1955 makes monogamy-the rule for both men and women.
  10. The year 1976 witnessed passing of a bill for equal remuneration to men and women for the same type of work

The laws relating to dowry, rape ,and violence against women were amended to make them more stringent and to ensure that the culprit is punished5. Besides many more bills introduced to ensure a strong legal frame work towards attaining equality and improving the lot of women.

Infact, there is hardly no profession where women are not working now. There are women who excelled in the international field. Mrs.Vijayalakshmi Pandit became the first woman President of the U.N.Assembly Rajkumari Amrit Kaur became the Vice-President of the League of Red Cross.Hansa Mehta and Lakshmi Menon held offices in the Human Rights Commission and the UN Commission on the status of women. At home, Mrs.Sarojini Naidu became the First Governer of Uttarpradesh. Later, her daughter Padmaja Naidu was the Governor of West Bengal.Woment also contested election and were elected to both the Central Parliaments and State Assemblies. A few of them became Cabinet Ministers of States. Though there are only a small number earlier,women came to occupy several positions in almost all sphere of national life. There are engineers, doctors, pilots, journalists, teachers, bankers, administrators, diplomats, head of States, entrepreneurs and manufactures. However, inspite  of the liberal provisions  made to ensure equality to all citizens and thereby women as well, the latter continue to suffer in the male-dominated society6. Countless women continue to be victims of violence. They are beaten, kidnapped, raped, burnt and murdered. They are many reasons attributed to the womens problem.

  1. Lack of awareness of the seriousness of the women’s problem,
  2. General acceptance of man’s superiority over women,
  3. Denial of violence by women themselves due to the religious values and social attitudes.

To overcome these, women have to ask for, agitate, demand and advocate legal remedies to reduce and eliminate the disabilities inflicted on them.

On political role women are yet away from participating in the decision making level7. Still women have to travel a long way before they can be equated with men like the freedom movement, there should be a women’s movement to have equal status with men.

References

  1. Tomory (Ed), A History of Fine Arts in India and the West, Chennai, 1989, p.139.
  2. Christopher John Baker, An Indian Rural Economy 1880-1995, The Tamil Nadu Country, Oxford, 1984, p.49.
  3. S.Srinivasa Raghavaiyangar, Memorandum on the Progress of the Madras Presidency during the last Forty Years of British Administraion, Madras, 1892, pp. 7-9.
  4. The Hindu, dated 30 June 1995, p.27.
  5. Tamil Kalaikalanjiam, Vol. 1V, Madras, 1956, pp. 301-322.
  6. The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol. XVI, New Delhi, 1909, p.406.
  7. Letter No.2121, Law Department, Governmemt of Madras, 24 July 1934, p.30.