Women's Reservation Bill - The end of U turn



Some scholars believe that in ancient India, the women enjoyed equal status with men in all fields of life. However, later (approximately 500 B.C.), the status of women began to decline with the Smritis (esp. Manusmriti) and with the Islamic invasion of Babur and the Mughal empire and later Christianity curtailing women's freedom and rights. The Indian woman's position in the society further deteriorated during the medieval period. Sati, child marriages and ban on widow remarriages became part of social life in India. The Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent brought the purdah practice in the Indian society. Among the Rajputs of Rajasthan, the Jauhar was practised. In some parts of India, the Devadasis or the temple women were sexually exploited. Polygamy was widely practised esp. among Hindu Kshatriya rulers. In many Muslim families, women were secluded to Zenana.

Thanks to Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotirao Phule etc. for igniting the thoughts of equal rights to women. Today, everyone of us (at least most of us) have a compassionate feeling about women's rights. But it has to be in both letter and spirit. Women's Reservation Bill can be the first step towards equality of women envisioned by our forefathers. I am glad that UPA government finally made its mind to introduce Women's Reservation Bill (2008). I hope that at least this time Women's bill will finally get president's assent. If it does, it will be a historic day in the democratic world and it would complete the U turn of women's status beginning with equal status in the ancient times to the oppressed state of women in medieval India and finally marching towards equality of woman in the modern democracy.