Real
Feminine Face of Modern India
Today
with the help of science and technology we have bridged the gap of time and
space and have worn the mask of modernity. Today blind westernization has
become the symbol of modernity. No doubt, no area is left where women have not
put their feet. From the conquering heights of flights (Air Force), we can see
the feminine face in every field whether it is politics, defence, science and
technology or any other. But think for a minute is it the real feminine face
which is mentioned above? The reality is entirely different. Although
we cannot deny realities of Meera Nair, Ekta Kapoor, Kohinoor, Hampi, Sonia
Gandhi and Ritu Sharma. But this is an only a handful amount of the half of
the population of the entire world. If we open our eyes towards reality we shall
find that it is very disheartening. Violence against a woman starts even before
she puts her feet on the earth. To be a woman is the biggest curse for a woman.
She seems to live her life on the double register law and languages; which
emphasizes her roles as standing outside of language and law. The law book of
Manu declared, “Where women are verily honored; there the Gods rejoice; where
however, they are not honored these all scared rites prove fruitless.” When we
our ancestry we find that Manu who was a staunch believer in the co-ordinated
and harmonious development of human personality; assigns a very reasonable
place to women in the framework of society. He does not regard them as
necessary evils to be tolerated anyhow but as the prime factor of the man’s
worldly as well as spiritual happiness. Man cannot make any progress if there
be no woman standing by this side ready to co-operate with him in all his
activities. Man’s powers lie dormant so long as they are not touched by the
spark of a woman’s love and affection. The wheel of the world cannot move in
the absence of a woman.
In
ancient times, are women had the ceremony performed for them. They were
entitled to study of ‘Vedas’. They were also entitled to chanting of Gayatri
Japa. When Vedic civilization was at its peak, the wife of Manu Maharj had
desired a female child at ‘Putrayesthi Yajana’. But in the later ages the
condition of women deteriorated. The Indian women today are rarely considered
as an individual. Instead she is viewed in her roles of daughter, wife or
mother. Since she is thought to be lacking any internalized norms or
self-discipline, it is imperative that her father, husband and sons protect her
from the outside world. Due to restrictions placed upon women by the nature of
their roles, initial attempts to improve the conditions of women were taken up
by men. From Raja Ram Mohan Ray to M K Gandhi; many reforms highlighted the
excessive restrictions placed upon woman as social evils which need
ameliorations. The founding father of our constitution had envisaged the
concept of full equality of women in competition with men which has not fully
become a reality till date, and women who theoretically enjoy an equal status
with men in the Constitution of India have not been able to exercise that
equality in letter and spirit. In 1976 surgical abortions were recognized as
legal acts. The reason behind it was to provide health protection to women. But
in the present days sonography has become a very cruel means to kill the female
child before birth. In spite of special laws, women have not been able to get
justice. There has been a constant increase in the number of crimes against
women. Harassment of women at workplace is also on increase which is because
women do not come forward and raise their voices. In the modern world, the role
of the women goes much beyond the home and the bringing up of children. She is
now adopting a career of her own responsibility for the development of the
society in all its aspects. This is the direction in which we shall have to
move fast. In a male dominated society, the women suffer from the varieties of
gender bias and repressive laws in all fields of life. Right from the moment of
birth up to that of death, they suffer from severe handicaps in the field of
education, health care, child bearing and rearing, laws related to marriage,
inheritance rules and also personal laws. Women must muster enough courage and
fight against all inequalities and repressions in whatever from they may be.
Women must take part in organized activities. In this, the trade unions can be
of great assistance and they must take more and more interest to promote their
career related prospects. Women are not aware about their fundamental rights to
from association or unions. It is high time that at least they should awaken
and take active part in decision making bodies; only than they will be able to
enjoy equality with men. Participation of women not only makes them visible but
also strengths the movements and gives it publicity. Further, their
participation helps to steer the movement in certain directions often away from
violence. It is only recently that women have awakened and realized their
strength. Anyway it is never too late. 21st century will be women’s
century and let us all work untidily to shape it.
Republished with thanks from: D E I
Magazine (2001-02), Pg. 43-44.
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