Political and Social Status of Women in Pre and Post Independent India

Abstract

Women’s involvement in socio-political life is a desideratum for the progress of not only the women folk but also the development of the nation as a whole. During ancient and medieval times, women from orthodox families actively participated in social activities, but their overall position and status gradually deteriorated. The Modern era meant for women ushered in during the dawn of the 19th century when social reformers paid special attention to enhance the social status of women. For instance, the promulgation of the Widow Remarriage Act, implementation of the Civil Marriage Act 1872 mentions a few of them. Ever since the formation of the Indian National Congress, several remarkable changes took place in the socio-political status.

Moreover, women franchise induced their effective participation in the Freedom Movement of India. They were accorded equal political status on par with men only after independence, which has been enshrined and enumerated in the provisions of fundamental rights of the Indian constitution. In the new millennium, there has been constant demand to accord 33 percentages of reservations to enhance the status of women in the political arena as well as to increase their social statues. This paper attempts to indicate the socio-political status of women over the period in the Indian context during the Pre and Post Independent India.