Women in India

Aadi Shakti – the primordial Goddess or Divine mother – the energy that is referred to as all riches, all strength, all fame, all beauty, all knowledge, all renunciation and is the creatrix of the Universe. In all forms, she is gorgeous, even when is menstruating, when she is considered most impure, bounded by restrictions to enter the holy places, kitchens and even certain food items in some areas.

Progressing through the generations, she has also progressed and so is her standing in society. From expecting only to manage the household chores, bear children and as for the outside, limited to fields and to satisfy the male libido to becoming a voice for not only herself for the society at large, she has come a long way. Surpassing undoubtedly the biggest hurdle to gender equality, the patriarchal mindset, finally getting a say on political matters by getting a right to vote in 19th Amendment to the Constitution on August 26, 1920, changed the outlook she possessed for herself. Her taking charge in the freedom struggles, from Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi to Kanaklata Barua (the Birbala), Manatangini Hazra (the Gandhi Buri) among many others, they also paved the way for what is now a free India.

Surely the mindset of the society towards women had changed with all the education, empowerment and awareness, but a lot has yet to be achieved. Constitutionally, much measures has been taken. The setting up of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh in 1993 to make credit available for lower income women in India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao in 2015 to stop female feticides and to make girls socially and financially self-reliant through education, Mahila-e-Haat in 2016 to help women entrepreneurs, NGOs and self-help groups, yes the situation is far better than it ever was for the 48% of Indian population. The evil that is the harassment has lessened, but has it really? The worst thing to come out is that those doing these are mostly friends or someone known for a long time, 46% of the 818 cases reported in 2021 to be exact. Women empowerment is not only in chanting slogans for the victims, it has to be felt from within.