K A M UNIT -I WOMEN IN INDIA Pre Independence Period

Educational Administration Theory and Practice Journal, 2024

This paper delves into the intricate relationship between men and women within the Indian societal framework, focusing on historical and sociological perspectives. Despite the universally accepted principle of gender equality, Indian society reflects a complex interplay of socioeconomic conditions, policies, practices, and cultural norms that have historically positioned women in subordinate roles. The paper provides a chronological examination of the status of Hindu women from the Vedic period (1500 BCE-500 BCE) through to the end of British rule in 1947, highlighting key aspects of their lives, including childhood, education, marriage, divorce, and property rights. The paper examines practices such as child marriage, dowry, and female infanticide, emphasizing their impact on women's societal roles and opportunities for education. Furthermore, the paper sheds light on legislative efforts made during British rule to address these issues and their limited success due to persistent societal biases. In conclusion, the paper underscores the importance of recognizing the historical and cultural dimensions of gender inequality to effectively address and dismantle the structures that sustain it.

The women has been naturally a parallel section of the society since its inception but the society and its institutions have molded these natural provisions in to create an unnatural imbalance. The foundations of such imbalance theory has took its root from the post-Vedic period onwards in the form of various vices such as gender biases in social, cultural, religious and economic and political arena. The present article aims to discuss such aspects in the light of the available sources and reach some important conclusions. Looking into the different traditional sources and texts of legal character, we would come across many remarks complimentary or derogatory about woman in the society and as an individual. In reality a woman's role has been described differently by Śastrakaras, the epic writers and other jurists. The most ancient history known to us is an undying witness of the fact that women has always been kept in subordination and has always been treated as inferior to man in rights and privileges.

One way to judge the status of a nation is to study the status of its women. In realty the status of women represents the standard of culture of any age. The social status of the women of a country symbolizes the social spirit of the age.' However to draw a conclusion about the position of women is a difficult and complicated problem it is therefore necessary to trace his position in the historical perspective in the course of Indian history form prehistoric to modem times there were distinct stages of the rise and fall in the status and role of women.

isara solutions, 2016

One way to judge the status of a nation is to study the status of its women. In realty the status of women represents the standard of culture of any age. The social status of the women of a country symbolizes the social spirit of the age.' However to draw a conclusion about the position of women is a difficult and complicated problem it is therefore necessary to trace his position in the historical perspective in the course of Indian history form prehistoric to modem times there were distinct stages of the rise and fall in the status and role of women.

isara solutions, 2019

The status of women in India has been subjected to many great changes over the past few decades.Women have been progressed,educated and employed by reforms and upliftment which brought a radical change in the society but without touching the roots of the problems that women have been fighting with. Women's rights under the constitution mainly include equality, dignity, and freedom from discrimination; additionally, India has various statutes governing the rights of women. However, women in India continue to face numerous problems such as sexual assault, gender inequality and dowry.The status of women in India is like the eco system of the earth, losing its actual shape and qualities and taking a new change imbalanced and unwanted leading to a smaller problem to a bigger one.

This article provides a series of analytical reflections on the women’s status and their position in social life through time in multidimensional aspects during the Vedic period. Efforts have been made to understand the dynamics of women’s status across the transformation of society and the rise and fall of the culture and adaptability with the civilization. It is observed through Vedic literature that at one time in India - in the ancient Vedic period – they enjoyed equal rights. They were given their all due respects and they played a very active and important role in running the family to manage and maintain the social order. Education was from top to bottom for all women was equally required irrespective to any kind of discrimination as during the instruction for women in Veda no evidence found which indicate for any particular Varna or class. Women Law makers like Gargi and Maitreyi not only contributed in law making but they also interpreted the law. In the paper evidences from the Veda, Mahabharata and Manusmriti have been taken to analyze the situation. Also it is found that because of their individual freedom they had their social position as high as men, and this was all through equally at all levels.

Mumukshu journal of Humanities, 2017

International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 2018

This article deals with the changes in women's status from the Rig-Vedic Period to the present era. Rig Vedic Aryan women enjoyed a position of equality and were respected in family and society. The status of women deteriorated in society. Buddhism and Jainism upheld women's status to some extent, but during British rule, the condition of women in society was far from satisfactory. The Hindu women were victims of Sati, Purdah, female infanticide, child marriage, etc. This condition prevailed almost all over the country. The emergence of a renaissance in the nineteenth century opened the eye of Indian intelligentsia to the disgraceful social condition of women. Religious and social organisations like the Brahmo Samaj, The Aryan Samaj and Ram Krishan Mission were sought for the cause of women. In the twentieth century, some progress was observed in women's education which gave rise to the elevation of women's status visa -vis political affairs of the country.

International Journal of Management and Humanities, 2021

The main purpose of this research paper is to acquire an understanding of the continuously changing status of Hindu women from antiquity (Prevedic era, c1500-1100BCE) to modernity (Early Modern Era, 18th Century). In my paper I will try to establish my point that the Hindu religion, which is seen today to subdue women the most, once esteemed them highly and with the passing centuries gradually their status degraded. Therefore the fluctuating status of Hindu women resembles a downward graph. The methodology will be historical method of qualitative research. As Primary source I will take resort to Hindu Core Scriptures (both Sruti & Smriti) and for secondary source will receive help from historical records, books, journals, reports and websites.