After independence, our Constitution guaranteed to women all the rights, freedoms and privileges as enjoyed by their male counterparts. It made some difference as education spread and the lot of women improved to some degree mostly in metropolitan centres and among some sections. But the biggest hurdle in real empowerment and liberation of woman equation there are areas where law does not and can not interfere. There traditions, old and outdated values rule supreme. Even in urban areas and among educated people male prejudice refuses to go away.
Woman constitute 50% of our population and without their emancipation the society and the nation can’t move forward in real terms. The women have strived hard individually to set examples to prove that women can do what men can. Consequently we saw many great women leaders, social workers, crusaders, administrators industrialists, reformers, literary figures and sports women come up as shining examples. Today there are women in all the professional fields working. We have women Everest conquerors, astronauts, scientists, pilots and explorers too. To name a few—Vijay Laxmi Pandit, Sucheta Kriplani, Laxmi Sehgal, Indira Gandhi, Padamja Naidu, Sushila Gopalan, Kiran Bedi, Medha Patekar, P.T. Usha, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Amrita Pritam, Mahadevi Verma, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams, Sonal Manshing, Swapna Sundri, M.S. Subbulaxmi, Lata Mangeshkar, Jailalitha, Sania Mirza etc. Then, there are a host of artists, painters, actors, directors like Aparna Sen and a lot of them are in the administrative and police services. The doors of armed forces, in combat wings have also been opened for women. Medical doctors and surgeons are just too many. Every political party has women leaders and woman wings. But the society adamantly refuses to accord them equal status. So much so that every year millions of females foeticides take place inspite of law against it. The orthodox minds still think that female child is a burden that begets nothing but woes and shame to the family.The rural areas are the worst examples of male prejudice. In Panchayat elections women Sarpanch get elected but the males don’t let them function. The husband rules the roost on her behalf or other male members forcibly usurp her powers. The society remains male dominated and women continue to be exploited. They don’t even get equal wages for equal work as males. The laws can’t extend their protection to them. A number of laws have been passed to protect women, the latest being Parliamentary Act to prevent Domestic Violence. But the laws are rendered ineffective as the society refuses to change its mindset. The right and privileges of women are flagrantly violated as if they didn’t exist. They are still raped, molested, ill treated, humiliated, abused and discriminated. Married women are forced to bring large sums or goods as dowry from their parents. Physical violence and abuse is common. The working women are not allowed to keep their salaries or to spend as they like.
The literary ratio of women is still much below the desired level. The are condemned to ignorance. Most of them have no idea about their rights and privileges or laws made to protect them. To some extent women are themselves to blame for their plight. It is true that the biggest enemy of a woman is another woman. As a result their life becomes a vortex of inhibitions, taboos, superstitions, discriminations, ill treatment and ignorance borne woes. The liberation of women still needs a lot of doing at every level. They should unite to raise their voice against all social evils and male chauvinism. The real sufferers of social evils are women in some way or other. A relentless war against gender bias is needed. The women must become more politically aware of their rights and natural justice. The women of India should organise their own powerful movements and became a force to influence the vital decisions of the governments and administrations at all levels. There is no dirth of quality leadership amongst women.
The women of India are courageous, compassionate, hardworking and intelligent. They are too sensitive to hurt the male pride. But it needs to be made clear that their oriental, soft attitude is no sign of weakness or licence for exploitation. They are capable of breaking the bondages of traditional subordination and slavery in a non-violent way. Our culture gives them moral support by visualising all the powers and faculties of the world being feminine. The women are repositories of the qualities of beauty, love, sacrifice, tolerance and creativity. Without their active participation our country can’t make progress. So, it is their national duty to work out their liberation and use all the rights and privileges granted to them by law. They should no more accept discriminations and gender injustice. Only that would make our freedom really meaningful.
