Magazine of August - 2010

Miles to Go
SPEECH BY PROF. SMT. KALINDI MUZUMDAR ON 17 TH APRIL, 2010 AT TALMAKIWADI ON
THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY CELEBRATION
Brief outlines of Women’s Status in Hindu religion
and mythology.
In the accounts of Gods’ and Goddesses’ lives in
the Hindu religion we fi nd equality of sexes; women
felt free to discuss family and social matters and take
their own decisions, e.g. Lakshmi had a quarrel with
Vishnu and in anger, left him and went into “patal”.
Rakumai had an argument with Vithoba over his love
for devotees and left him. Sita, after being humiliated
twice never returned to Ayodhya. Yet, and this is
interesting, we still revere them as “Pativratas”! The
intelligence of women in the era of Ramayan and
Mahabharat was recognized.
Draupadhi’s soul searching question to all learned
acharyas and members of Dritharashtra’s darbar has
still not been answered. Anasuya cleverly transformed
gods into three children to save her honour and thus
was born Lord Dattatraya.
Historical evidence of women’s empowerment has
not been adequately explored. Yet we have examples
of Jijamata, Jhansi Ki rani and Ahilyabai Holkar.
There were others in the rest of India especially in
the erstwhile Rajputana.
Gradual Degradation of Women’s Status
The degradation was so gradual that it failed to
catch the attention of the world. It was Gandhiji who
brought the women out of their kitchens and enrolled
them in the freedom movement. In addition to
Gandhiji, Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule made efforts
to empower women. But after Independence women
seemed to have been home-bound again.
It was in the mid 20th century that women power
received an impetus. Lady Ram Rau, Smt. Durgabai
Deshmukh and Dr. Sushila Nayar, amongst other
women, worked towards the awakening of women
power.
However, the degradation of women’s status
continued and still goes on. Most women belonging
to the BPL, go through many chakravyuhas while
Abhimanyu was caught only in one.
The current situation
A few statistics will give the gruesome pictures of
women in India.
Ratio of Male Female In the last census
1000 933
In Punjab 1000 876
Number of crime against women in 2000 A.D.
In 2000 A.D.
Rape 16,496
}
Source
Dowry Deaths 6,995 Violence against women
Sexual Harassment 11,024 Ed. Dr. Aruna Goel
Traffi cking 9,515 Dr. Mandinder Kaur
Dr. Amir Sultana
Deep and Deep Publications, 2006
Rape in marriage has not yet been legally
recognized as a crime.
Types of Violence Against Women in Society
1) Rape
2) Molestation - eve-teasing
3) Traffi cking of young girls
4) Honour killings, esp. in Punjab (Sagotri
marriages)
5) Sati in Rajasthan
6) Date Rape
7) Unequal remuneration for women labourers.
8) Child marriages
9) Custodial rape (in institutions, police stations)
10) Child sexual abuse (1 in 4 girls, 1 in 6 boys)
as mentioned in “Bitter Chocolates” by Pinki
Virani.
11) Branding women as witches - killing them.
12) Female Circumcision in Africa.
Domestic Violence
Defi nition: It is the abuse of power over women and
children who are helpless.
KANARA SARASWAT Vol. 91, No.8, August 2010 17