Position of Women in Indian Society

This paper analyses Indian women’s position in Indian Society since ancient time. The objective of the paper is three-fold: first, to highlight the current status of women in Indian society in general and, in education, in particular; second, to throw light on social problems of women education in India; third, to stress the progress achieved so far in women’s education as well and to explore the changes in women’s education that will be vital to the economic survival of the country in years to come.

In recent years, no sector of Indian society has been subject to more debates and discussions than the women’s sector and their role in the development process. Moreover, issues regarding women’s rights and responsibilities in that development have been equally controversial among both conservatives and progressives in India.

One of the major problems of India society is the inferior position accorded to women. They do not enjoy equal status and their condition is far from satisfactory. The condition, status and position of women were different in different period, viz. Ancient, Medieval, British and Independent period.

Ancient Period: The Ancient Indian women enjoyed a comparatively high status during the early Vedic period (2000 B.C. to 1000 B.C.). The Rig Veda accorded the highest social status to qualified women of those days. Women were appointed at important positions. In that period, marriage was not compulsory. It was considered a social and religious duty, and was generally undertaken at an advanced age. On the whole, during this period the women enjoyed high status. However, the status and position of women declined in the later Vedic and epic periods. They were not considered equal to men and did not enjoy the same rights and privileges as men.

Medieval Period: The condition and status of women in India declined with the passage of time. During the medieval period, woman was given a position subordinate to man. Law and religion did not recognize the equality and equal rights of man and woman. The women’s place was largely regarded as being in the home.

British Period: When the British came in to contact with the Indian people in the latter half of the 18th century, the position of Indian woman had deteriorated to the lowest level. Ideologically, women were considered a completely inferior species, having no significance, no personality. Socially they were kept in complete subjection, denied all rights and were suppressed and oppressed.

Improvement in condition and revival of status of women during the British period: The early years of the 20th century witnessed rapid progress in breaking down prejudices against women’s education. A number of women’s societies sprang up. The Women’ Indian Association was founded by Mrs. Annie Besant in 1917, with the primary aim of promoting women’s education. Many women took to studying econo¬mics, sociology, science, mathematics, etc. Social hindrances began to disappear gradually. Purdah almost became a thing of the past. In the social and political fields, men and women started working side by side. Educated girls began to marry by choice and some of them took to the stage. Music and dancing were assiduously cultivated and some of the women achieved world fame in the arts.