Religious rights of the Hindu woman

The post colonization thought style of India has been conditioned to assume that nothing was well with the Hindu woman, ever before the British rulers  ‘became’ the ‘advocates’ for them. But much of the facts remain unexplored or unsaid about the religious rights of Hindu women, particularly in the pre-colonial ages.

On one side is the lack of Samskrt language to read and understand the original documents and literature. Another is the extreme dependence on English/ western interpretations for knowing any everything about our past. On the click of a mouse, the first things that appear before us for information is what mostly the westerners. That too the colonialistic scholars or their descendants have been writing down the ages. 

But a peak into the ancient and even medieval texts and sources reveal that things were quite different for the Hindu women, much different from what we have been conditioned to think like. We either have sympathy or contempt for her status, blindly without verifying whether she really needs that.

The word yajamana means one who is performing rites. The word eventually became the denotation for a grhastha/ husband. The word ‘Patni’ itself literally means any woman who supports or participates with a man in religious rites, yajnas etc. In course of time the patni became a denotation for the’ wife’ only

Agnisparsha by women (even today symbolically done by women)

Vaishvaanara- along with wife only- agnihotra (a rite that husband and wife must practice all life and never allow the gaarhapatyaagni fire to diminish.

Sanctions were initially only disciplines

Menstruating women and rules for them

Relaxation of rules for young mothers

Relaxation of rules related to repeated bathing, washing hair

Relaxation form rites related to funeral etc (to avoid children and old people to suffer the trauma, scenes etc)

Relaxation of rules related to fasting (sumangali must eat even at the night of shraaadhha)

Sumangali must not fast,

Woman is nitya shuddha (she is always pure and throws out her physical and mantela impurities during menstruation (manu smrtiti)

Vedaadhyayana

Aachaaryaani

Daana- dharma-pilgrimage- religious rites

The concept of punya and papa (couple mutually sharing mutually merits and demrits)

The division of labour between the two

Karma yoga- a religious saadhanaa in itself

Vratas- utsavas for both, for men only, for women only, for brahmacharis, brahmacharinis, vratadhaarins, vratadhaarinis, etc

Concept of panchayajnas- husband wife share the responsibilities to implement

 

 

 

 

 

The Bhaaratiya nari has always held a special place in the Indian society. She bears an exceptionally unique influence on the ethos, culture, family system and health of the society. In India, woman is the nucleus of the society, the grace of human civilization and the support system to all that is beautiful and noble. Infact European scholars themselves observe that that in the 19^th century the hindu women were naturally chaste and more virtuous than other women of the world.

Woman’s contributions to the society and life vary as per her roles and responsibilities. She is seen as the biggest contributor to the family system as a mother, wife, sister and daughter. Apart from this, she has also been the pillar of many knowledge domains and social, religious, cultural and economic activities.  

Education

In ancient times, there were universities Gurukulas wherein theoretical and practical education was given to boys and girls. There are examples of rishikas (women seers) in vedic lore who were not only vedic scholars but great poetesses, seers and composers of hymns. Upanayanam (investiture ceremony) was the beginning of formal education in the Indian tradition. The popular saying- Pura kalpe tu naareenaam mounji bandhanamuchyate---proves that women of the old vedic age underwent upanayanam and therefore had the rights to education. But there were norms for their education. For eg- The Guru needed to be elder in age or else a close relative like father uncle or husband. Women like Gargi Vachaknavi and Maitreyi were great brahmavadinis, well versed in vedic lore. Arundhati is also mentioned as an ‘achaaryaa’ (chancellor of an independent gurukula). Some of them Like Gargi Vachaknavi, Maitreyi, Sulabha and Vagambhrimi were even brahmavadinis who committed themselves to vedic study and practices.

In the medieval times and pre-independence era too there have been many wise and knowledgeable women. The great scholar Ubhayabharati, the wife of Mandana Mishra, (who later on became the disciple of Adi Sankaracharya), was chosen as the judge to their masterly vakyaartha-vaada(scriptural debate). Leelavathi the daughter of Bhaskaracharya was acclaimed as a great mathematician. Shukavani and Ramabhadramba were great poetesses of Tamil nadu. Vijjika, and Tirumalamba who belonged to the Vijayanagar dynasty, have greatly enriched the sanskrt classic literature through their poetic works. Vikatanitambaa, a great sanskrt scholar of her times is said to have had a comparatively dull husband. Even the celebrated monk Swami Vivekananda (19^th century) had met some women of the royal clan of Trivandrum and was impressed by their fluency in sanskrt and shastric knowledge.

Even after the invasions, when the gurukula system for girls particularly rapidly declined, many women, though deprived of formal education, managed to learn within the limits of their homes. Education in ancient India was kinesthetic and practical in its outlook. Men and women of every clan unconditionally learnt and practiced the occupations of their clans. In this sense every citizen was educated. But considering the theory oriented examination pattern education system of modern India, which is merely about a century old, the modern critics tend to blindly label all the ancient citizens except the brahminical and military classes as uneducated. This is not only illogical but even an insult. Men and women of every clan who contributed to their family occupation and developed skills of their respective occupations were indeed educated. Infact, it is the modern western imitation of theory oriented system that has been killing the skills and kinesthetic education system of India.  In this sense, even the so called uneducated women of India were and are nevertheless skilled and resourceful.

In the present day women have equal rights to education, jobs and property. To discriminate any one is indeed a punishable crime. Today, the society triumphs with women intellectuals, scientists, writers, poetesses, teachers, research scholars, working women and many many more.    

Dress- There was certainly no purdah system in ancient times. Infact it is said that during the vedic society and even in the later Chalukyan times, women and men dressed in the same style (one cloth on upper body, one cloth on lower body) Infact dress style in Indian was based on the region, geography and occupation. Purdah system started only after the Islamic invasion. That is why it is popular only in northern parts of India which were the most victimized during invasions. The north west- Rajasthan in particular practice more of child marriage, sati and purdah system because that was mostly the pathway to Indian for many Islamic invaders.

Today the Indian woman exercises the freedom to blend the Indian western modern and traditional dress in her wardrobe. Dress in these days is getting more general, losing its regional flavor.

Political sphere

The puranas, epics and kavyas and many ancient and medieval historical accounts and local folk tales refer to women rulers, warriors, and provincial governesses. Perhaps India can boast of having had the largest number of women rulers and warriors since the oldest times. In the ancient western civilizations, women were merely the fairer sex with no or meager representation in the male dominated social activities and political activities till the dawn of renaissance. But in India, every egion has had famous women who have had noteworthy social participation.   

In the Mahabharatam, we see Chitrangada the princess of the kingdom of Manipura, whom Arjuna loved and married, was an expert in warfare. The historical kavya Rajatarangini mentions that Sri Krishna, on slaying Damodara, the king of Kashmir in a war, did not annex the kingdom but instead installed the pregnant queen on the throne. Raghuvamsam of Kalidasa also mentions that the queen of king Agnimitra was similarly crowned after his untimely death.

In the medieval times we find many women rulers and provincial governors. They were common in many kingdoms like Mauryan, Hoysalan, Kerala, Pandyan and many other kingdoms. Queen Shantala of the Hoysala dynasty was extremely popular for her excellent statesmanship, talents, scholasticism, versatility, nobility and cultural patronage. They are to this day adored a greatest of martyrs. Women have worked in intelligence services and politics from ages and have been excellent spies, messengers and ambassadors at all times. Chanakya’s arthashastra mentions about women spies at large. (arthashastra, gudachari-pranidhi,    ) Shurpanaka, Ravana’s sister is seen advising him in serious political ethics and issues in ramayanam. 

The freedom struggle which was indeed fought against every foreign invasion from the very beginning. But it got a more concrete and holistic form after the 18^th century. All through, women have participated in the freedom fight with patriotic vigour all over India. Kittur Chennamma, Abbakka, Jhansi Rani lakshmibai, Belavadi Mallamma, Obavva, Chand bibi, Jijabai, Durgavati of Gond, Bhikaji Cama, Pritilata Waddedar, Vijaylakshmi Pandit, Rajkumari Amrut kaur, Sucheta Krplani, Dugabai Deshmukh, Kasturba Gandhi, Muthulakshmi Reddy, Sarojini Naidu and many many others were great patriotic women who committed themselves and there dear ones for the cause of the freedom fight. The mothers of martyrs like Bhagat singh, Savarkar, etc are also noteworthy ones. The major part of the credit of sculpting some of the greatest personalities like swami Vivekananda and Chatrapati Shivaji goes to their mothers Bhuvaneshwaridevi and Jijabai. The rani of Jhansi regiment of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian national army consisted of only women under the captaincy of Captain Lakshmi Sahgal.

The freedom struggle of the last stages led by Gandhiji also had many women in it. Infact there are countless examples of women, even form the poorer sections give up their ornaments and belongings to fund the freedom movement. Many mothers, wives and sisters supported the men folk even though it ended up in loss of lives.  Post independence era saw women achievers in all spheres. In modern India, women have adorned very high offices like that of the president of India, prime minister, Speaker of Loksabha and others. They have been leaders of leading political parties.

In these days we are seeing many Indian women entreprueners on the rise too. Women like Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams have even ventured into the outerspace and boosted the Indian pride.

Economical contributions

From since the oldest times, the Indian woman’s contribution to the economy has been notable. In occupations like cattle rearing, dairy, farming and trade they have been participating significantly. The Vedas mention ishukartryah (arrow making women) which implicates that women were also participating in work in manufacturing sections from the oldest times. There have been many women who were well versed in native and home medicines, midwifery and dietary.  Even to this day we can see many of these living traditions. The fields of nursing, gyneacology, native medicine systems are almost like extensions of the age old traditional systems and even to this day women dominate in number in these domains. In the Indian dairy industry even to this day it is the women that contribute most.

Women have particularly contributed greatly from since the oldest times to the fields of native gymnastics (Dambaraata), textiles, tye and dye, embroidery, knitting industries, pottery, food industries, flower making, costumes making, perfumes making, doll making, basket weaving and many others.  The fact that the  ancient smritis mention how the occupations like dairy, cattle rearing, gymnastics, fine arts etc .,which are primarily women based should ensure right proper economic rights to them. (Yajnavalkya smriti, vyavahaaraadhyaaya, slk- ) shows that women were active in all these occupations since the oldest times.

In the list of chatusshashtikalas (64 knowledge forms), women they   have had direct or indirect roles in  many of them, in some others they have participated at par with men while in yet some others they have dominated the role of men. Many of these 64 knowledge forms still exist in the form occupations and native or folk art forms. Apart from these, women have also been mentioned in many other contexts as talented beauticians, excellent messengers, magicians, recluses and others.

Even the courtesans, since the vedic times, till the advent of foreign rule, enjoyed a high status in Indian society. They were not simply the exploited sex workers that we see today, but rather greatly respected for their knowledge, talents in fine arts and many of them enjoyed aristocratic status. During the ancient and medieval times, their contribution to the literature, fine arts as well as intelligence services has been noteworthy.  But unfortunately when the after repeated invasions and onslaughts, foreign rulers stopped patronizing the native arts, the courtesans, who were primarily cultural contributors, were reduced to the plight of mere sex workers. Courtesans who were once acclaimed as the makers and promoters of the cultural riches of our land have disappeared. If some of their progeny remain, most of them merely identify themselves with flesh trade win their bread.

In the modern times, the Indian woman contributes monetarily to the family and society almost at par with the men. Working women are common everywhere. Infact even prospective grooms prefer them to dependent women. In the recent days even women entrepreuners are growing in number. Some like Kiran Majumdar, Sudha Murthy, Indira Noyi and others have even attained world wide popularity. There are countless woman entreprueners running small industries and business successfully. The names of many Indian women achievers have entered the guinness book of world records. The software and medical fields has huge numbers of women in it. Even the police and defese forces have many women in them. Kiran Bedi, Kalpana Chawla, Sunita wIlliams and others are known as great women achievers in their respective domains.  

The Indian woman whose rights and say were more in the family’s internal matters only, has now more say in the external matters too. Women have been the greatest savings agents for the Indian family system. Their investments vary in form- cash, jewelry, land, etc., Infact, if the Indian society at large(excluding the IT employees)  did not reel under the effect of the world wide recession, it is primarily because of the family system and savings, the credit of which goes mostly to women.     

Women have triumphed in politics, Information and media, education, entertainment, trade and commerce, Banking, and almost all other domains at par with men.

Status and Rights

Women enjoyed equal participation in all religious and social events during the vedic times. Infact the word ‘patni’ actually means one who associates herself in the yajna with the Yajamana(performer of yajna). She symbolizes her permission and participation by giving arghya (pouring a drop of water on his right hand, when he conducts the religious or charitable acts. Infact there are many religious havanas and activities where the presence of the patni is mandatory. Sapatnika is the word used frequently that implicates that every act of a householder is his joint venture with his wife. The medieval times saw major shuffling of the social structures due to interference of repeated foreign invasions. Thus the status and rights of women changed and even considerably reduced.

The Islamic invaders used to abduct women of their captive kingdoms. This discouraged the free movement of women in the society. The worst consequences of this was deprival of education for women and child marriages. This made them less competent and more dependant on their male counterparts. Illiteracy, ignorance, innocence and insecurity began to prevail upon them and this in turn reaped many more ill effects in course of time. They were treated more or less like  secondary citizens with less legal rights or participation in the society. However in the royal clans and some communities their education and rights continued. That is how great women literates, poetesses, queens and achievers were seen even during this black period. But the women folk of middle classes and countryside who could not avail costly security facilities like the royal women suffered the most. It is after this time that we see a fast downfall of women rights and education. Generations of women suffered this subjugation. This period has begun to end since about a century and now women are raising back to their original status in the Indian society. This shows the adaptability and potential of the Indian society at large and the Indian woman in particular. However, the deprivation of education in gurukulas did not render them useless. Women of almost all communities were adept in their family occupations and supported their menfolk. As we have seen they have even had the higher hand many occupations like gymnastics, cattle rearing, fine arts, and many others.  

Paativratya (devotion to husband) was again a system based on loyalty and healthy association with the husband. As projected in course of time, it was not an imposition on women to submit to any and every injustice done to them. Infact women could question, advocate and lead their husbands in many cases as seen in the examples of ancient women.

A remarkable feature of the Indian family system from ages upto this day is that the mother has always been given the highest place. Matru devo bhava proclaim the Vedas only after which in succession the pita (father), acharya(mentor) and atithi are hailed. Although the mother is usually obedient and secondary to the father in financial and some external matters, her role within the household was and still is usually very strong. Marriage, festivities, food, property distribution, discipline, family events and most other internal issues are absolutely under her control. In the south Indian traditional Indian family, men do not even go for marriage negotiations without the women folk. It would appear awkward and questionable if they did so! It was so in North India for many ages, till the cruel purdah system came into force in the aftermath of the terrorizing Islamic invasions.

Women have had completely control over streedhana, the movable and immovable property that they inherit from their parents and other gifts and earnings of their own. They can gift, donate or use it as they please. A man who eyes the women’s possessions is looked down as a lowly person. Even Chanakya in his arthashastra asserts women’s rights on streedhana.

In Kerala, coastal Karnataka and many other smaller kingdoms, since very ancient times the matriarchal system (i.e. the daughters used to inherit the responsibility and property from their mothers) was in vogue. In the Chalukyan kingdom, the society was known to be matriarchal. To this day many communities of Kerala, Karnataka and some others follow this in their families. The women folk of Hrashavardhana’s harem were active participants in political scenario of the day.

During the medieval times, many reformatory movements came up to protect the rights if women. Gurunanak advocated that women must be allowed to perform the congregational hymn singing task in public religious meets. Jainism and Buddhism openly encouraged women to take up asceticism. The veerashaiva movement advocated equality to women in all domains of life. Swami Vivekananda fiercely voiced out against discrimination against women. It was he who was instrumental in making Sister Nivedita start a successful girl’s school in Kokata which runs in full swing to this day. Rajaram mohan Roy worked for women empowerment all his life.  

Today law has given equal rights to the daughters over their parental property. Women can claim at least 50% of their husband’s property if divorced. Pensions schemes and many other facilities have been given to women. They can seek justice against domestic violence and claim compensations and even punish their offenders. Many women rights protect their interests monetarily, morally and legally. Rights to education, employment, monetary gains, voting and politics (women have 33% of reservation in political power sharing) have empowered the Indian women to great extents.

We also have many popular sportswomen who have represented Indian in the international events like Olympics, Asiad and others and made us proud. Women like Malleshwari, P T Usha, Shiny Abraham, Saina Mirza, Ashwini Nachappa and many others have bought laurels to the country. There are today many independent women hockey, cricket, football, baseball, throw ball, volleyball, koko, kabadi and other sports teams apat form many noteworthy women wrestlers, boxers, weight lifters, and coaches.       

Marraige

Contrary to the belief that all the ancient women never had a choice in choosing their groom or voicing out their opinions and seeking justice, there are countless examples of popular and eminent learned scholarly women, princesses and aristocrats who posed daring challenges before their prospective grooms. Heroic young men had to perform daring feats to please them and win their hands.     There are vedic references to the samanas (vedic large religious fairs), young maiden could walk about and choose a groom of their choice in public and express their choice to their parents.

Not only that, in the vedic society, women could chose between being spinsters and living as householders. Women who chose to commit themselves to study or other pursuits and prefer to be free of family ties were called brahmavadinis and those who entered marital ties were called sadyodvaahas. Some brahmavadinis  like Maitreyi even had the freedom to marry on conditions of life time celibacy!   

Polygamy was common in ancient and medieval and even pre independent India. But there are stray examples of Polyandry (having more than one husband) too. Draupadi is the most populary known one. The Islamic rulers had large number of women in their Zenanas and their conditions were pathetic. Although they were pampered with silks and ornaments the y were treated like sex workers and always lived under the threat of being thrown out or sold anytime. They lived like prisoners within the walls of the zenana.  

The Svayamvara paddhati wherein the bride had complete freedom in choosing her groom was very much rampant in India since ages. There are countless references to swayamvaras in ancient medieval literature and modern history. Damayanti, Seeta, Draupadi, Bhadraa, Lakshana iof puranic fame and many others chose their grooms in swayamvaras. We see how princess Draupadi openly refused to even allow Karna to try his luck in her swayamvara although he was a king! Princess Samyukta eloped with king Prithvi raj Chauhan in her swayamvara much against her father’s wishes.  

Even the concept of love marriage was not unseen in the ancient society. It was considered as Gandharva vivaha(one of the eight recognized forms of marriage). Many examples like that of Shakuntala, Subhadra, Rukmini, Pramadvara and others reflect that there were women who dared to chose their spouses and yet get accepted in the society.   

Some smritis prescribe even remarriage and niyoga paddhati (wherein a childless women, with the permission of elders of the family, can have children through legal intercourse) But perhaps this sytem gave way to many unethical developments, it gradually ceased to exist.  

In the present day women have begun to have a big say in their marriage. Although Indian marriage even to day is a big family affair, the rights of accepting or declining a marriage proposal are as much in the hands of the brides as it is with the grooms. Women even go for love marriages, intercaste marriages or even remarriages with not lesser social inhibitions. Infact even live-in relationships and extra marital affairs are getting rampant unfortunately. Marraige laws protect the interests of women against domestic violence and give them property rights.

However there are still many women amongst ignorant masses who are unaware of their rights and they thus suffer exploitation. The government, media and volunteers are promoting awareness though a number of projects for such women.

Widowhood

They did not seem to be grave widowhood woes in very ancient times, because many women like Kunti, Vidula, Kausalya, Sumitra, Kaikeyi, Shurpanaka, Tara, Ruma and others are never projected as widows who were subjected to cruel discrimination. On the contrary they have had great influence on all their family matters. Sahagamana (dying on the husband’s funeral pyre) was prevelant but only a voluntary and optional. The story of Damayanti wherein she announces that she was ‘having a second swayamvara after her husband Nala had gone missing for long and king Rtuparna rushes in excitement to try his luck’ implicates that even remarriage was not very unusual in those times.

The cruel practices of discrimination of widows, imposing sanction on their dress, activities, food and rights was certainly a later development which can again be traced back to the post invasions period.

In the present days, modernization and awareness has relaxed many of the constraints that were imposed onto widows. The government employees’ widows get their husband’s job or pension. Widows out of necessity or ambition take up jobs and enjoy economic rights. Although the social discrimination at social events still remains in some minds, such practices are fast declining. Infact the sanctions on their dress and diet are also gradually disappearing.    

Saints and recluses

In The sanatana dharma, God can be worshipped in any form. In fact the mother goddess in her many spectacular forms has been the chosen deity of innumerable devotees at all times. The Shakta doctrines even place the devi form above all other God heads. The range of Devi forms form the gentle Gouri upto the fierce kali suggest that the potentials in a woman can manifest in all ways depending on the situation she faces.

There have been great women seers in Indian at all times. The vedic lore mentions about 27 rishikas (women seers) who were visionaries and many of them composed hymns. The most popular names among them are Gargi vachaknavi, Maitreyi, Sulabha, Vagambhrini, Lopamudra to name a few. Women like Lopamudra and Urvashi are mentioned in samvada suktas(dialogue) wherein they question and place demands before their husbands. Infact in the pithikaa of Lalitaa-trishati, it is even mentioned that Lopamudra, the consort of the greatest of sages, Agastya, was greater than him in spiritual attainments! Many women like Swayamprabha, Shabari, Satyavathi, the daughter of sage Kushanabha, Vedavathi and others are saintly women mentioned in Ramayanam. Swayamprabha is said to have possessed yogic powers through which she could perform amazing miracles and astound the monkey warriors. Mahabharatam also mentions about women ascetics like Sulabha who could even paralyze for a while the personality of king Janaka through her yogic powers! Yet many more women ascetics, tapasvinis are mentioned in the great epic.

     In the classical literature of sanskrt as well as all other Indian vernaculars mentionis made of many women ascetics, Buddhist bhikshunis, 

Women like Maa Sharadadevi, Maa Anandamayi of Bengal, Tarigonda Venkamma of Andhra Pradesh and Lalleshwari of Kashmir relived the glorious lives of the Rishikas(women seers) of the vedic age. Akka mahadevi, Meerabai, Andal and other women saints enriched the literature through their compositions. There were brave sanyasinis like Durga maa, Gauri Maa and others in Bengal in the later half of the 19^th century. Jana Bai, Sakku Bai and countless others all over India have left glorious memories of their spiritual attainments.

In the realm of religion and spirituality, women have extremely active part even to this day. There are many women sanyasinis and spiritual leaders to this day who command huge popularity even world wide. Mata Amrutanandamayi, Vijayeshwari mata, Nirmaladevi and some others others command worldwide fame as spiritual leaders.

Fine arts

In the sanatana dharma, the abimaanidevata of all fine arts is itself Goddess sarasvathi. She is shown as holding the Veena symbolizing fine arts, veda symbolizing all knowledge forms, an akshamaala symbolizing all spiritual wisdom and mounting a oyal swan symbolizing purity and dynamism in life. Perhaps in no other faith can we see such a honour bestowed upon a female form.   

Indian women have most active in the world of fine arts like dance, drama and music. No Indian festival is complete without the colourful activities of women. From since the vedic times, women have been the greatest promoters of all fine ats and cukture. The samanas, satras and utsavas mentioned in Vedas, puranas and kavyas and other literature have spectacular descriptions of well dressed women participating jubilantly in cultural activities like singing, dancing, drama, throwing colours (okali in kannada), exchanging tambulas and gifts and moving around with grace and enthuse. The festive ambience is mostly expressed through the colourful costumes and jingling twinkling ornaments of women more than anything. Infact it would not be an exaggeration to say that the descriptions of women even eclipse that of men in the festive contexts in particular!   

Valmiki’s Ramayanam mentions how there were many vadhunatakamandalis (women drama troupes) in Ayodhya. Mahabharatam narrates how Arjuna learnt a special dance form from the celebrated nymph Urvashi and later taught it to princess Uttara. Kavyas mantions many women artists like Vasavadatta, Mahashweta, Malyavati, Malavika, and many more. There are many occasions like competitions, fairs, festivals, and others where women showcased their talent in the public. Natis, nartakis, gaayakis and kalakovidaas are profusely mentioned all over the literature as well as inscriptions.  

Greatest contributors to fine arts were courtesans. Their participation in celebrations were noteworthy. Every utsava, rathotsava and marriage began with their dance. Most of the fine art traditions were preserved by these courtesans. Infact Vatsyayana mentions that huge celebrations were hosted in public galleries or the affluent houses of courtesans. They used to entertain people with wit and bouddhika kreedas (brainy games) alongside extending good hospitality to all the spectators. But there were male dominant art forms like Yakshagana, kathakali and martial arts where women had less or no participation too.

Wake up, O Bharatiya Naari!

However many issues like child marriage, dowry, domestic violence, discrimination, sexual abuse, human trafficking, femal foeticide,  education deprival, lack of awareness of human rights, and others still cloud the Indian society to this day. Rural areas face these the most while it is not unseen in the urban areas too. The male chauvinism still exist at all levels wherein the women is expected to always be the obedient irrespective of whether it is just or not. If she voices out her opinions, she is termed as the ‘dominant, misled, modernized rebellious woman’. However noble hearts all over the globe are standing up to seek equality and justice for women not only in social life but also in family matters.

The need of the hour is to educate, empower and motivate the Indian woman to not only fight for her justice and rights but also grow up imbibing all the best virtues of woman hood, culture and heritage. Swami Vivekananda observes that more than anything else, it is the chaste, strong, virtuous and enterprising nature of the Indian woman that has built such a strong family system and social ethics ion our nation. That is how the nation has withstood the cruel foreign onslaughts of centuries and still retained many of its vibrant social cultural and ethical values. 

The bharatiya naari needs to be the personification of all that is noble and best from the past, and live up to the needs and changes of the present and surge on into the future. She is the power behind all his children and fellowmen who needs to inspire and lead the society towards success and glory.