Free sample essay in Place of Women in Society (Modern India). In ancient India, women enjoyed a place of pre-eminence. They were equal partners of men. Some of them were great scholars and were held in high esteem. It is said that many of the hymns in the Vedas were written- by women. Even during the periods of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata there lived women of great virtue, wisdom and respectability, thus we had women like Seta, Savior, Gorge, Draped and Diamante.
It was, however, during the medieval period that women were pushed behind the pariah. Not long ago, they had to live within the four walls of the house. They were deprived of education and all opportunities of progress. They had to do all the menial chores of the house and live like slaves. Whereas the western women had long ago won their right to vote liberty and education, Indian women still wallowed in illiteracy, ignorance and squalor. At the most they were treated as objects of enjoyment. They had no voice in their husband’s mundane activities. Only shyness and subservient submissiveness was their ornament. They had no right to love and even to choose their own partners. Particularly in the rural areas, women were prohibited from wearing fashionable and attractive clothes.
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Independence has brought about a virtual emancipation to at least the urban women in India. Now they do not lag behind men in any field. Indian women have got equal rights and march shoulder to shoulder with men. There are women teachers, doctors, nurses, scientists, engineers, officers, sportswomen, journalists, magistrates, architects and even pilots and drivers. Who can forget the women world leaders like Mrs. India Gandhi, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, Mrs. Bandaranaike, Mrs. Golda Emir, Mrs. Vijayadashmi Pundit and others?
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In the field of education, women out-do men. There are more women in higher educational institutions than men. Most of the top positions in all university examinations are bagged by women. Even in extracurricular activities, women do not lag behind men.
Now Indian women are conscious of their rights. Their voice can no longer be suppressed. They raise their voice in choosing their life partners and in the choice of profession of their liking. They mix up with men freely and participate in poetical competitions, musical concerts and even express abundantly their debating skills. They no longer believe in pariah or seclusion. They even learn judo and karate to nervure security.
It must, however, be admitted that some women cross the limits of decency. They wear gaudy and scanty dresses and expose their limbs. They read morbid literature and are fond of erotic songs and films. They thus misuse their liberty. At the same time, all is not rosy for all women. Most of the women in rural areas, particularly those belonging to lower castes, are illiterate, ignorant and superstitious. They have no awakening and they cannot rear up their children well. They know nothing about family planning or dangers of population explosion. Crimes against women are also increasing, thanks to the overall rise in gonads.
Although something has been done for women, much remains to be done. Let us not forget 1991 – The Year of the Girl Child.