Status Of Women In India

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text, focusing on the status of women in India as discussed by Pankaj Maloo:

The text, "Status of Women in India" by Pankaj Maloo, asserts that women have played a profoundly significant role in the creation of mankind, being responsible for childbirth and nurturing. However, it highlights that for a considerable period, India failed to recognize the esteemed position women deserve in society.

Historically, during the Vedic Age, women were accorded an honorable place. They participated in the composition of Vedic verses and were permitted to engage in Vedic rituals alongside their husbands. Their social standing and prestige were on par with men, contingent on their qualifications. They were not considered apolitical, lacking practical knowledge, or incapable.

The text then details a decline in women's status. The arrival of Muslim raiders such as Ghazni, Ghori, Tamerlane, and Abdali, coupled with the weakness of the ruling powers, led to the exploitation of wealth and people, including their women. This period saw women gradually losing their dignified position in society.

Under British rule, Indian women were further relegated to the status of second-class citizens. The British administration, driven by political expediency and in league with vested interests within India, acted in ways detrimental to Indian women's interests. Women were looked down upon, denied rights to paternal property after marriage, and often forced into marriages with much older men, sometimes the age of their grandfathers, at a tender age when they lacked an understanding of life's realities. Men, motivated by self-interest, frequently treated women as mere tools. The remarriage of young widows was socially unaccepted. Prostitution, the text emphasizes, reached alarming heights during this era. Furthermore, women were subjected to forced sati (burning alive on their husband's pyre) and endured widespread humiliation and deprivation of their due rights, often justified in the name of religion.

A significant turning point arrived in the 19th century with the rise of the women's freedom movement and the Indian Freedom Movement. Women actively participated in politics, demonstrating that they were not apolitical.

The text emphasizes that after India gained independence and adopted its Constitution, a pivotal declaration was made: the state would not discriminate against any citizen on the grounds of sex. The Constitution of India is hailed as the "Magna Carta" for Indian women, ensuring them equal opportunities with men in all spheres of life. India is also noted as a leading nation in promoting women's suffrage.

Despite these advancements, the text acknowledges that certain societal evils persist, which even legislative efforts have struggled to eradicate. The dowry system is identified as one such persistent evil. The author suggests that addressing this requires preventive measures, including fostering social consciousness among the populace and working to remove backwardness among women.