Like many other women around the world, the women of India too have their own
historical contributions of past and present through out India. Although from a western
perspective of feminists’ women’s movements in America and to even some Indian
women, their movements may not seem to have progressed the women of India into the
most ideal position of equality with the men of the Indian culture.

But when the history
of the women’s movements of India are studied a little closer, even a western feminist
can not argue the vast amount of contribution and progression that has truly been
accomplished over all by women in what has become through recent history a mostly
male dominate culture.

Although opinions will vary widely from one end of the
spectrum to the other even amongst the women of India, they will most all agree upon
the fact that progression has been made in their efforts toward equality and personal
rights within their best interests as of today. The variation of opinions usually comes
when trying to unite the majority of Indian women in how far their movements for
their causes and equality should be taken.

These issues of distress are there for many
various reasons, but one main reason of entrenched cultural values cannot be ignored.
This is the overall cultural believe of most Indian men and Indian women that Indian
women are meant to be a wife and mother to fulfill their duty as a woman. In 1953, Lila Majumdar wrote a book. This book was called “Great Women of India”,
and among other topics on Indian women, there is explanation and defense upon the
roles and arranged marriages within the Indian culture. From this book, Mrs. Majumdar writes:

“For the foolish and utterly ignorant marriage is indeed a denial of self-expression, but
for the wise and the educated it is the noblest career the world has to offer. A good
marriage gives such opportunities of fulfillment and service as may never be found else
where.” (1)

Although what Mrs. Majumdar had wrote in 1953 may seem out dated and even
a belief that is to be in a minority for the majority of Indian women of today, it is a fact
that marriage and especially arranged marriages are still very much a common practice
for Indian women of today. According to one of the films in our class on “Women’s
Movements in India, one film spoke of a movement within a village were women were
choosing not to be married. Instead it was said by several young girls and women that
continuing on into higher education and even careers was personally very important to
them and for their daughters. Equality and work within the community empowered these
women in so many ways on a personal level of confidence and on a higher level of financial independence.

Although this is proof of change on the thought of marriage
making the woman, this by no means is a majority up rise of women defying marriage
for higher education and careers. Instead, it seems to be more a goal of equality amongst
men and women, unity and strength between women, and paving a better future for the
daughters of the Indian cultural future.

It was in 1972 that Indian women just for created a very important movement
Indian women that really began to pave the way of protecting, improving working con-
ditions and uniting Indian women through support of each other and educating each
other of the independent working sector of the poor and or defenseless Indian women
who needed extra protection from the police and so forth.
The Self-Employed Women’s Association, (also known as S.E.W.A.), was started by Ela Bhatt. She was determined to improve working conditions for these women of the informal sector through training, technical aid, and collective bargaining. Although this movement was started by a
woman and carried on today by mostly women, the history of women’s movements began in the middle to late 1800’s by some of the educated elite men of India.

This was not only the Indian men alone who had decided that it was time for the women of India to have more freedoms, but also the British influence through the British rule at this time also highly encouraged and pushed for this movement to occur. This is known as the beginning of the 1ST wave of India’s women’s movements. This wave was from pre-independence to the mid 20th century. The beginning main focus for women’s rights was on getting rid of purja, and bringing the women out of their homes into the public spear.

There was also focus on women’s “uplift” and equal rights through civil rights, but within
keeping to female values of loyalty and self-sacrifice. This wave focused mostly on the
women of upper caste levels, and was highly connected with the British Raj beliefs of
making India a “civilization” through the ridding of the Indian “social evils” of the Indian
culture.

The 2nd wave began in the 1970’s and is still going on today. It is mainly focusing on
the lower caste or class level of the women of India. It is the movements fighting for the
“rights and equality of Indian women” by the means of “empowerment and liberation”.Education is also a huge part of this women’s movement of today.

Through the first movement, the British came up with various excuses related to the
women of India for as to why the British were in India. Some of these excuses were their
concerns for child weddings, Sati, female infanticide, and the lack of female education
through out India. Reformers wanted reformation of Hindu society with standards that
were Hindu, but consistent with western ideas. Revivalists wanted revival of Hindu
society, with standards independent of western corroboration, and so began the long
continuous battle for the women of India.

After the British started the ball rolling, the
reform angles came from all sides and outlets. Eventually the British and the men slowly
stepped out of the picture and this later on lead into the struggle on women’s issues for
women by women. These women’s organizations were now focusing of bringing all the
women together through out India for educating the women and girls of India in school
settings and or in homes.

Along with the proper medical care being provided for all
women and girls. Financial resources also became an issue to fight for with these
women. Women were becoming more politically involved over time through protests
of all different levels of importance. Eventually the power of these women began to take
them on into the political seats of high government offices for India.

There are many individual women, who have contributed to India and its government,
but the most infamous is Indira Gandhi. She was India’s Prime Minister from 1966 until
her assassination on October 31, 1984. It was two of her own Silk bodyguards who
killed Mrs. Gandhi. But through the many years of being one of India’s most contro-
versial political leaders of all time, many were not completely surprised by her assas-
sination. Ironically though, it was said that because of Mrs. Gandhi’s assassination, the
biggest wave of all time of women being elected into public offices soon afterward
began. By 1988 women accounted for almost 10 percent of the membership of
Parliament-the largest proportion since independence. (2)

Today through out India, women and some men too still stand strong and fight for
the current women’s issues at hand. Current issues of oppression of women may vary
from yester-year’s women’s issues. But change is still being pushed for the protections
and equal rights of women without completely throwing out all of India’s feminine
cultural values and beliefs.

India’s women’s movements are a far cry from the thoughts,
wants and beliefs of “westernized feminism”. It would actually be safe to say that all of
my personal past research of the women of India, that the majority of these women want
the equality and proper changes for their humane rights without the “westernized
feminism” label attached to them. It is also safe to say that large amounts of progress
have been made, but there are many more battles to go for a better future for all the
women of India.