The status of women in India has been fluctuating. It has gone through several changes during various historical stages. Starting from Vedic period She provided great respect and diminished in later periods. Again in during Buddhist period the position of women improved some extent. It was ruined during Medieval period but in modern period Women Status was reached improved well and Legislations made by the Indian Government made further advancement.
Status of Women in Vedic Period:
According to one view women. Women during the Vedic Period occupied an exalted position and they enjoyed a fair amount of personal freedom and equal rights with men. But another view holds that birth of a girl was not a welcome event. However she did not suffer due to that reason.
She was given all the privileges as entitled to a male. No discrimination was made on the basis of education. At least twenty women composed Rig Vedic Hymns. Gargi and Maithreyi were the leading philosophers of the time.
Women, in the Vedic era, so exelled in sphere of education that even the deity of learning was conceived of as a female popularly known as “Saraswati”. Girls were allowed to enter into the Gurukulas along with boys.
There are also instances of female Rishis, such as Ghosa, Indani, Shradha, Kamayani, Yami Shachi, Poulomi, Urvashi etc.Marriage in the Vedic period was considered as social and religious duty and united the couple on an equal footing. The couple prayed that their love and friendship should not break down.
The Vedic literature also contained that Kshatriya girls were allowed to settle marriages in accordance with their own wishes. This was done through the custom of “Swayamvara” or self choice. This is an indicator of their dignified status in the Vedic society. The concept of “dan”or gift was prevalent in the Vedic period. But the practice of dowry was unknown.
The wife held an honorable position in the household. She enjoyed freedom of movement and was not con- fined to the house only. In religious performances, the wife occupied a promi- nent position. Even the performance of certain ceremonies was invalid without the wife.
Monogamy:
Monogamy was the form of marriage during the Vedic days. The term “Dampati” was frequently used in the Vedic texts. The term meant ” two joint owners of the household. The Vedic people were quite ignorant of the possibility of marital bonds ever being terminated or ended.
The concept of widow remarriage was in vogue and the brother of the dead husband has to take care of the widowed sister-in law in the Vedic days. The widow did not have the right to inherit her deceased husband’s property in the Vedic age. However, the Rigveda recognized the right of a spinster to inherit her father’s property.
Status of Women in the Buddhist Period:
In the Buddist period, the position of women improved some extent. In the religious field, women came to occupy a distinctly superior place. They had their own sangha called Bhikshuni “sangha”, which provided avenues of cultural actvities and social services.
They got ample opportunities in public life. However, their economic status remained unchanged.
The status of women improved a little during the Buddhist period though there was no tremendous change.Some of the rigidities and restrictions imposed by the caste system were relaxed.
Budha preached equality and he tried to improve the cultural, educational and religious statuses of women. During the benevolent rule of the famous Buddhist Kings such as Chandra Gupta Maurya, Ashoka, Sri Harsha and others. Women regained a part of their lost freedom and status due to the relatively broad- minded Buddhist Philosophy.
Status of Women in the Medieval India:
The medieval period proved to be highly disappointing for the Indian women, for their status further deteriorated during this period. Medieval India was not women’s age, it is supposed to be the “dark age” for them.
Status of Women in Modern period:
The status of Indian women has radically changed since independence. Both the structural and cultural changes provided equality of opportunities to women in education, employment and political participation. a. Status of Women during the British Rule in India.
After the fall of the Mughal Empire at the decisive Battle of Plassey, the British people established their complete political supremacy over the Indian people. During the British rule, a number of changes were made in the economic and social structures of our society.
Though the Quality of life of women during this period remained more or less the same, some substantial progress was achieved in eliminating inequalities between men and women in education, employment, social right and so on.
Some social evils such as child marriage, sati sys- tem, devadasi system, purdah system, prohibition of widow remarriage etc., which were a great hurdle in the path of women’s progress were either controlled or removed by suitable legislations.
After the lapse of several centuries for the first time some attempts were made in all India basis to tackle the problems that confronted women. Social reformers with patriotic spirit on the one hand and the British Government on the other together took several measures to improve the status of women and to remove some of their disabilities.
The status of Women in post Independent India:
The status of Indian women has radically changed since independence. Both the structural and cultural changes provided equality of opportunities to women in education, employment and political participation. With the help of these changes, exploitation of women, to a great extent was reduced.
The advancement of women in modern India:
More freedom and better orientation were provided to the women’s organisation to pursue their interest. The centuries of slavery was over. Today women want equality, education and recognition.
Gandhiji once said “woman is the noblest of god’s creation, supreme in her own sphere of activity.
These words are blossoming now. Various Posts and articles are available in internet for further information.
It is highly significant that women in independent. India have achieved great progress in all I walks of life. We can confidently assert that India is the only nation among the developing countries of the modern world. Where so many women occupy high administrative positions quite successfully.
The improvement in the status of Indian especially after independence can be analysed in the light of the major changes that have taken place in areas such as legislation, education and employment, political participation and awareness of their rights on the part of women.
Social legislation safeguarding women’s interest:
The Government of Independent India under took a number of legislative measures to safeguard the interests of women. Some of Important ACTS are discussed here.
The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: It prohibits polygyny, polyandry, and child marriages and concedes equal rights to women to divorce and to remarry.
The Hindu Succession Act, 1956: It provides the right to parental property for women.
The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956: The act gives a childless woman the right to adopt a child and to claim maintenance from the husband if she is divorced by him.
The Special Marriage Act, 1954: It provides rights to women on par with men for inter-caste mar riage, love marriage and registered marriage. The Act has also fixed the minimum age of marriage at 21 for males and 18 for females.
The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: It declares the taking of dowry an unlawful activity and thereby prevents the exploitation of women.
Other Legislations: The Suppression of Immoral Traffic of Women and Girls Act 1956: It provides protec- tion to women from being kidnapped or compelled to become prostitute.
The Medical Termination of Pregancy Act 1971: It legalizes abortion conceding the right of woman to go for abortion on ground of physical & mental health.