Gandhi on Women's Empowerment
Mahatma Gandhi had expressed his views and had written on numerous issues that concerned the Indian Society in particular and humanity in general. This article examines the importance and relevance of his views on issues that directly or indirectly impacts the status of women in India. The following issues are being considered:
Unlike many other noble souls who wrote and worked with the principle of sexual equality in mind, Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, sought to bring about a revolutionary change in the status of women in the first half of the 20th century. The views expressed by the Mahatma and the actions undertaken by him may not go entirely with the current times because the times have irreversibly changed but the honesty of the Mahatma, the love and respect he had for women can never be doubted.
- Equality of Sexes.
- Marriage.
- Purdah.
- Dowry System.
- Widow Remarriage.
- Divorce.
- Women’s Honor.
- Education and Co-education.
- Birth Control.
- Sterilization.
Unlike many other noble souls who wrote and worked with the principle of sexual equality in mind, Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, sought to bring about a revolutionary change in the status of women in the first half of the 20th century. The views expressed by the Mahatma and the actions undertaken by him may not go entirely with the current times because the times have irreversibly changed but the honesty of the Mahatma, the love and respect he had for women can never be doubted.
The Mahatma on Women
The Mahatma said that women have been suppressed under custom and law for which man was responsible and in the shaping of which she had no hand. Rules of social conduct must be framed by mutual co-operation and consultation. Women have been taught to regard themselves as slaves of men. Women must realize their full status and play their part as equals of men. (Ref. Constructive program, pp. 17-18).
The Mahatma on wives
Wives should not be dolls and objects of indulgence but should be treated as honored comrades in common service. The educationally ill-disposed should be educated by their husbands. The customary and legal status of women is bad and demands radical change. (Ref. Constructive program, pp. 17-18).
The Mahatma on traditional rules and regulations
Legislation has been mostly done by men and has not been always fair. The blemishes represented in our Shastras should be removed by women. Women of firm, pure and self-controlled character like Sita, Damayanti and Draupadi should be produced and they will be able to remove these blemishes from our Smritis.
Gandhi considers these women of pure, firm and self-controlled character. Yes they were firm and self-controlled but one can always debate about the purity aspect of a character, particularly women, because purity is generally related to sexual purity. The question is therefore, whether sexual purity is a virtue or an ideal criterion to measure the character of a person. Or for that matter, is sexual purity the only criterion to measure the character of a woman? These women suffered the domination of men in the society, they suffered an oppressive social system and succumbed to it. For instance, Sita rejected this world of men and their laws and vanished in the parted earth. Draupadi married to Arjuna in the Swayamwar and accepted his four brothers as co-husbands against her desire (a rare case of fraternal polyandry amongst the ruling classes). Damayanti fought for her beloved Nala and succeeded. But none of these women fought against the oppressive social system created by Manu and his ilk. Could these women be considered as role models for the modern woman?
Women are gifted with equal mental capacities and therefore she has equal rights. However, due to the force of custom, ignorant and worthless men have been enjoying superiority over women. (Speeches and Writings of Mahatma Gandhi, ps. 424-425).
Gandhi considers these women of pure, firm and self-controlled character. Yes they were firm and self-controlled but one can always debate about the purity aspect of a character, particularly women, because purity is generally related to sexual purity. The question is therefore, whether sexual purity is a virtue or an ideal criterion to measure the character of a person. Or for that matter, is sexual purity the only criterion to measure the character of a woman? These women suffered the domination of men in the society, they suffered an oppressive social system and succumbed to it. For instance, Sita rejected this world of men and their laws and vanished in the parted earth. Draupadi married to Arjuna in the Swayamwar and accepted his four brothers as co-husbands against her desire (a rare case of fraternal polyandry amongst the ruling classes). Damayanti fought for her beloved Nala and succeeded. But none of these women fought against the oppressive social system created by Manu and his ilk. Could these women be considered as role models for the modern woman?
Women are gifted with equal mental capacities and therefore she has equal rights. However, due to the force of custom, ignorant and worthless men have been enjoying superiority over women. (Speeches and Writings of Mahatma Gandhi, ps. 424-425).
Conclusion
On a scale of one to ten, the Mahatma comes out with flying colors for his views on the various aspects concerning women in our society. Considering the fact that he wrote his ideas about 70 to 80 years ago, we can set aside some of his views such as the women being a complement of men in matters of occupation and education and female chastity in the context of women’s honor. The Mahatma, by far, can be considered the best friend of women in India and the world. The Mahatma’s purity of thought and honest intentions are beyond question. No other man in the entire history of India or in the world had such godly ideas about women. For both men and women, to have a better perspective of each other and life, Gandhian literature will continue to be a prescription for many years to come.
The Mahatma by far was one of the most honest and divine historical figures of the modern age. His philosophy of non-violence, although not new, assumed revolutionary proportions under his tutelage and captured the hearts and imaginations of people all over the world. Non-violence as enunciated by the Mahatma is the strongest weapon of the strong as against violence which is the weakest weapon of the weak. Humanity as a whole can seek deliverance from darkness to light and from bondage to freedom with this mighty weapon of non-violence. The power of non-violence is located in the spirit of the human being and the Mahatma indubitably is the greatest architect of this spirit and spirituality, he is the greatest sculptor of this spirituality called non-violence. He is the noblest of all nobles and the bestowal of the Nobel on him will only be a recognition which is widely known and recognized.
The Mahatma by far was one of the most honest and divine historical figures of the modern age. His philosophy of non-violence, although not new, assumed revolutionary proportions under his tutelage and captured the hearts and imaginations of people all over the world. Non-violence as enunciated by the Mahatma is the strongest weapon of the strong as against violence which is the weakest weapon of the weak. Humanity as a whole can seek deliverance from darkness to light and from bondage to freedom with this mighty weapon of non-violence. The power of non-violence is located in the spirit of the human being and the Mahatma indubitably is the greatest architect of this spirit and spirituality, he is the greatest sculptor of this spirituality called non-violence. He is the noblest of all nobles and the bestowal of the Nobel on him will only be a recognition which is widely known and recognized.
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