WOMN IN INDIAN NATINAL MOVEMENT - Orrisa PCS Exam Notes

CHAPTER 3 – WOMEN IN INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT

ROLE OF WOMEN IN INDIAN NATINAL MOVEMENT

The participation of women in National Movement legitimised the Indian National Congress. The British understood that the method of Satyagraha had a special appeal for women.
The participation of women in the freedom movement also influenced the movement for Women’s rights. It legitimised their claim to a place in the governance of India.
However, there were regional differences in the number of women who joined the national movement and synthesized women’s interest with nationalist issues.
The best organised, the most independent and fielded the largest demonstrations were Bombay women. They articulated a clearly feminist nationalism.
Bengal women were known for their militancy. Marching alongside men in the Congress parade and later joining revolutionary activities, they were subjects of folksongs and legends. These women espoused a feminist ideology but put aside in favour of a larger struggle.
However, in Madras fewer women joined the movement. In North India, Nehru and Zutshi families provided strong women leaders.. They put nationalist agenda first and believed that it was not possible to raise women’s consciousness about both politics and women’s rights at the same time.
The revolutionary women presented a different aspect in Indian National movement. They described themselves as sacrificing all the things a women wants like marriage, children etc. No one including the revolutionary women considered revolutionaries as representatives of Indian womanhood.
Rural women unless they were widows protested with their families.
From Swadeshi movement onwards women’s role in National movement can be seen conspicuously. Under Gandhian leadership their role become more conspicuous in non-cooperation movement, civil disobedience movement and Quit India movement.
From Non Cooperation movement they got associated with specific programme that as dharna on liquor shop. Sarojini naidu, Urmila devi etc. played an important role during non-cooperation movement.
From 1920’s onwards, the male leaders in the movement cemented a relationship with peasants, workers and women’s association with the intention of gaining mass support from the people.
During 1933 all revolutionary women like Urmila devi, Santhi Das and Protibha devi (Nari sayagraha samiti) etc. were all in jail.
During Quit India movement they got involved in underground movement. Example Aruna asaf ali and Usha Mehta (she started congress radio)

DRAWBACKS OF WOMENS PARTICIPATION

Only women from upper and middle class Hindu women participated and their participation was never large.
Only few Muslim women followed Gandhi. Rest found it difficult to accept Hindu ideas or were ignore by congress leaders.

ISSUES RAISED BY WOMENS ASSOCIATIONS

Women’s education
Child Marriage
Devadasi system
Purdah
Dowry
Polyandry
Polygamy
Female infanticide

WOMEN IN MODERN INDIA- ISSUE OF SUFFRAGE AND COUNCIL ENTRY

An Irish – Margaret Couisins was the first to raise issue of women’s suffrage. She send a memorandum to Viceroy through a delegation under Anie Besant in 1917.
Sarojni Naidu raised this issue at special session of Indian national Congress at Bombay (August 1918)
Act of 1919 did not recognise women suffrage but a provision in this act added women to the list of registered voters in provincial legislative councils.
BOMBAY AND MADRAS were the first to extend franchise to women in 1921
MUTHULAKSHMI REDDY was the first women legislator appointed to MADRAS legislative council in 1927.
Sarojini Naidu represented Indian women organisation in SECOND ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE IN 1931

ORGANISATION REALTED TO WOMEN

Bharat Stri Mahamandal —1910—Allahabad —-founded by Sarladevi
ALL INDIA MUSLIM LADIES CONFERENCE—-1914
Lady Hardinge Medical College —1916
National Council Of Indian Women —1925—By Mehribai Tata
All India Women’s Conference –at poona—1926-27—-By Margaret Couisins
Women’s Indian Association –1915 –by Dorothy Jina Rja Dasa—-Anie Besant was its first President
Desh Sevika Sangh —1930— a women wing of RSS

OTHER FACTS RELATED TO WOMEN

Ten women took part in INC session in1889
Kadambini Ganguly —–First Indian Women Graduate. She was a medical student who failed in her final exam but was given diploma of graduation in Medicine by the Principal to continue private practice. Other graduate of this college was Chandramukhi.
Annie Besant—launched home rule, became president of INC in 1917.
Gandhiji played an important role in integrating women in National movement

He used sacred legends from Ramayana like branded British as Ravan who abducted Sita
He made an appeal that rule of Rama would be founded when women like Sita joined nationalistic movement.

Rashtriya stree Sangh –founded by Sarjoni Naidu with goal of swaraj
Indian National Congress set a women’s department in 1940 —Sucheta Mazumdar Kriplani was chosen to organise this department
Women also played role in INA movement-Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan was Head of Department of Women’s Affairs under provisional INA government . She took charge of Rani of Jhansi regiment.

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