The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th-century social reform movement. What are the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? UPSC 2017
The colonial rule brought with it western education, liberal ideology, and modern thinking. Many Indians went to London for their education and became champions of eliminating the evils of Indian society. The new urban elite, drawn mostly from the upper castes set the wheel for the social reform movement of the 19th century.
Orthodoxy and superstition were deeply rooted in 19th-century Indian society and women were subject to many dogmas and irrational practices.
For example, women were discouraged to pursue education, child marriage and polygamy were rampant and widow re-marriage was not acceptable to society. Women were denied the right to inheritance and in some regions, Sati was practiced. The Purdah system was a norm in the society and female infanticide was practiced on a horrendous scale. The phase of Sankritization engulfed the little freedom that women from lower caste had in terms of marriage etc.
The labor participation of women was very low and women were confined to the four walls of households and taking care of daily chores. The British government in fear of backlash from the Indian society acknowledged both the Hindu and Muslim personal law despite all its evils and unscientific customs.
Some of the English-educated Indian elite took the initiative to raise their voice against the evils prevalent in society. Prominent among them were Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, M.G.Ranade, and R.G. Bhandarkar. Organizations like the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Theosophical Society, Prarthana Samaj, etc were set up to take the cause of women.
Feminist publications such as Manushi and Mahila Andolan Patrika were run by women to enlighten the masses about women’s rights. Gradually steps were taken to emancipate women through formal education and accordingly legislations were enacted to liberate the women from orthodoxy and biased social norms.