Women’s Movement in India - Summary

Ø  Women’s movements are organized efforts made by women’s associations to bring about equality and freedom for women.

Ø  Those movements which are guided by an ideology of fighting the sexual division of labor and patriarchy and which act against specific issues of oppression against women in an uncompromising way are Women’s movements.

Ø  The women’s movement in India can be discussed in terms of its two phases- one, the social reform phase; and the other, freedom movement phase.

Ø  The social reform movement phase-

Ø  Background of the Social reform movement: Female infanticide due to son preference, Child marriage, Practices like Sati, enforced widowhood, Devdasi system, Dowry system- oppressive to women.

Ø  Brahmo Samaj (1828)founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Prarthana Samaj (1867) founded by Ranade, Bhandarkar, Arya Samaj (1875) founded by Dayanand Saraswati, Theosophical Movement founded by Annie Besant, as well as several organizations were formed for fighting women’s issues-such as Women’s Indian Association (WIA), All India Women’s Conference (AIWC), National Council of Women in India (NCWI), etc.

Ø  This phase- characterized by several laws on women’s issues by the British Government.

Ø  Social Reform movement- criticized for being elitist and male-centered in character. Envisaged only partial changes. Could not reach masses.

Ø  The Freedom movement phase-

Ø  Gandhiji’s entrance into the freedom movement- mass mobilization- Swadeshi movement- women’s participation.

Ø  Quit India movement- women given training for various tasks- A regiment of women in Indian National Army.

Ø  Women’s role in freedom struggle- supportive to men. But many women’s organizations were established and led by women.

Ø  These movements- strong base for the women’s movement in India.

After post-independence

Ø  After post-independence it is known as third phase (pre, post emergency) and contemporary women’s movement

Ø  A lull in fifties and sixties because of the constitutional promise of equality

Ø  It faced challenge on the conceptual level on the account of diversified culture

Ø  Shabanu case  paved a new trend in its limitations ( Muslim personal law)

Ø  Split of the left front and SHAHADA Movement

Ø  Formation of Self Employed Women’s Association and it aimed at improving the working condition and the leadership of ELIA  BHATT

Ø  The Anti-Price Agitation in Maharashtra because of the famine and poverty started in 1970 to 1974 , demand was to fix minimum price and save markets

Ø  This movement spread to Gujarat known as Nav Nirman Movement though it started as students movement became women’s movement   against black market

Ø  Mock courts and funeral processions to greet the dawn of new era

Ø  The Chipko Movement. to inform why trees should not  be cut and women climbed to trees to protect Khejri trees , it directly relate to Eco feminism. Vandana shiva observes that it proceeded for Women’s Decade by UNO.

Ø  Under the leadership of  Sundarlal Bahuguna, she gave the slogan plant five F( food, fodder, fuel, fiber, fertilizer ) and jungle is our prental home

Ø  Telangana Movement from 1946 to 51, peasant women’s movement. women attacked police and released their activists who fought against exploitation of peasant women

Ø  Srikakulam Movement, an armed struggle of Marxist Leninist Communist activists. Struggle for Girijans justice and fair play, and guerrilla bad was used in this movement .under the leadership of Bommaraddi Snehalatha. Revolt against land owners

Ø  Anti R ape Movement : popularized by autonomous women organizations and groups regarding some cases which threatened the condition of women main cases are Mathura , Rameezabi, Hazeenabee,Lakshmi, Agra case  and courts verdicts on these cases. Organized some groups like Freedom without Fear Platform. Government amends mended Laws. This movement gave a new dimension towards women and feminism

Ø  Anti-Arrack Movement. Against social evil, women stopped making arrack. This movement was success because women’s literacy mission played in this locality. Under the leadership of Renuka Choudary and Rossamma. it was held in Dubugunta village in Nellore in AP

Ø  Anti-Dowry Movement: parliamentary joint committee took initiative in this movement saying that all murder and suicide of young married bride is mainly because of dowry. Famous murder of Shuda  Goul invited rallies. Nari Raksha Samiti comes to oppose the system. Laws amend mended in 1984 and 1985.

Ø  Dalit Women’s Movement: Dalit Pandar of Maharashtra has important role in this movement  fought against devadasi system and untouchablity. Mainly form intellectual weapon . In Kerala under the leadership of C K Janu . Harijan’s  women’s movement also has important role in this movement

Ø  Formed lots of NGOs and Organizations.

Ø  In India women’s movement cannot come under the label of feminism