Position of women in India has remained a topic of concern since ancient times. They can be the perfect example of home makers. With their incomparable quality of calmness of their mind, they can easily handle even toughest situation. Indian women are completely devoted to their families. They’re preached in the names of Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Durga, Parvati & Goddess Kali.
Their condition remains unchanged even during the modern times with only little changes. In India, women were never given any right of liberty & equality. Their condition becomes even worse when they gave birth to girls. Men treated them in a humiliated manner. They were not only permitted not to step outside their house but also abstained from being educated. They were also supposed to eat after their husbands or even sometimes to eat their husband’s leftovers.
It’s said during the ancient India, women enjoyed equivalent status & rights like their males counterparts. In addition they were properly educated in the early Vedic period. These references are available from the works of Grammarians such as Katyayana and Patanjali. Women also had the freedom to select their husbands. This system was known as ‘Swambar.’ In fact during this time, women had superior position than the males.
The status of women in India deteriorated during the medieval period with the entrance of the Muslims. Several evil practices such as female infanticide, sati and child marriage were practiced during this period. ‘Purdah’ was introduced to the society. Women were also forced to practice ‘zenana.’ Polygamy was also common during this period. Women also excelled in literature, music and arts. They were also rulers during this period. Some great-women rulers were Razia Sultana who was the only women-monarch to-rule-the throne of Delhi, Nur Jahan, Gond queen Durgavati who ruled for fifteen years before she was defeated in a battle by Ali emperor Akbar’s. In spite of these powerful women, the condition of poor women remained the same.
During the modern times there was a little development in the women status. There were many women reformers in India who worked for the uplift & betterment of their female counterparts. Their education was elevated and English was introduced during this period. Various female writers emerged in the society.
In the modern time, women in India were given freedom & right such as freedom of expression & equality as well as the right to be educated. Various prestigious positions at this period were held by women. They’re enjoying the ‘ladies first’ facility in different fields. However, some problems such as dowry, domestic violence, sex selective abortion, female infanticide are still prevalent.