Women in India have always been topics of concern since ancient times. They are considered as second class citizens by the family as well as the society at large. Though in one hand, the society talks about the respect of women and an d preach them in the name of Goddess Durga, Goddess Saraswati, Parvati and Goddess Kali, on the other hand the society also abuse the women in the form of several evils like child-marriage, female infanticide, Sati, sexual harassment and many more. Ramayana teaches that because Ravana abducted Sita his entire clan was wiped out. Further, Mahabharata also teaches that the Kauravas were killed because they dishonored Draupadi in public. From an unknown period in Medieval India to the modern times the condition of women is still the same with hardly any change. In India, the families are always `Patriacal` that is male dominated. Women were never given any rights of liberty and equality. They were always treated in an inferior way. Women were considered as machines for giving birth to children. The condition of women was so bad that if she gave birth to a girl child she was treated in a humiliated manner. Women were not only abstained from being educated b ut also were not permitted to step out of the house. They were asked to eat after their husbands have eaten and in fact were given to eat the leftovers of their husband`s meal. Women in Ancient India It is said that women in ancient India enjoyed equivalent status and rights with men in all spheres of life. Further, women were properly educated in the early Vedic period. References can be found in the works of Grammarians such as `Patanjali` and `Katyayana`. Women got married at a grown-up age and also had the liberty to select their husbands. Popular scriptures like Rig Veda and Upanishad mention about several women wome n sages and seers. There are some kingdoms in ancient India, which had the customs such as `nagarvadhu` that is the bride of the city. According to this tradition, women of a city competed to win the impressive title of `nagarvadhu` . Amrapali is the most well-known example of a `nagarvadhu`. Women in fact had superior position than their male counterparts. counterparts. It is also said that in this period women were really treated as Durga and Parvati. There was a particular thread ceremony ceremony in which girls were tied threads of honour based on merit. Later this ceremony was replaced by `child-marriage`. Child marriage by this time was started on a large scale. Girls were not permitted to gain education.
WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL INDIA The condition of Women in society deteriorated more during the medieval period. At this point of time several evil practices like child-marriage, child-marri age, sati, and female infanticide were practiced largely. `Purdah` system was started. These women were also forced to practice `zenana`. Rajput women of Rajasthan practiced `jauhar`, which refers to the practice of the immolation of all the wives and daughters of conquered warriors, for avoiding arrest and subsequent molestation by the enemies. Polygamy was common in Hindu Kshatriyas. At the same time many women excelled in arts, literature, and music. Women were also rulers in the medieval period. Some of the great women rulers were Razia Sultana, the only women monarch to rule the throne of Delhi. The Gond queen Durgavati ruled for 15 long years, before she lost the battle to Asaf Ali emperor Akbar`s general. Chand Bibi also fought the Mughals in 1590`s. Nur Jahan is still considered as the most effective ruler. In spite of all these successful women the condition of poor Indian women was the same. At this time, girls were married at a very tender age. Sati was also practiced where women were forced to jump in the burning funeral of their dead husband. Devdasi tradition was common in southern India where girls were married to deity or trees. The Indian woman's position in the society further deteriorated during the medieval period [4] [5] when Sati, when Sati, child child marriages and a ban on widow remarriages became part of social life in India. The Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent brought the purdah the purdah practice practice in the Indian society. society. Among the Rajputs the Rajputs of Rajasthan, the Jauhar the Jauhar was practised. In some parts of India, the the Devadasis or the temple women were sexually exploited. Polygamy was widely practised esp. among Hindu Kshatriya rulers. [14] In many Muslim families, women were restricted to Zenana areas. In spite of these conditions, some women execeled in the fields of politics, literature, education and religion. [5] Razia Sultana became the only woman monarch to have ever ruled Delhi. Delhi. The Gond queen Durgavati queen Durgavati ruled for fifteen years, before she lost her life in a battle with Mughal emperor Akbar's Akbar's general Asaf Khan in 1564. Chand Bibi defended Ahmednagar against the mighty Mughal mighty Mughal forces of Akbar in 1590s. Jehangir' 1590s. Jehangir'ss wife Nur wife Nur Jehan effectively wielded imperial power and was recognized recognized as the real force behind the Mughal throne. The Mughal princesses Jahanara and Zebunnissa were well-known poets, and also influenced the ruling administration Shivaji's Shivaji's mother, Jijabai mother, Jijabai was deputed as queen regent,
because of her ability as a warrior and an administrator. In South India, many women administered villages, towns, divisions and heralded social and religious institutions. The Bhakti movements tried to restore women's status and questioned some of the forms of oppression. [13] Mirabai, a female saint-poet, was one of the most important Bhakti movement figures. Some other female saint-poets from this period include Akka Mahadevi, Rami Janabai and Lal Ded. Bhakti sects within Hinduism such as the Mahanubhav, Varkari and many others were principle movements within the Hindu fold to openly advocate social justice and equality between men and women. Shortly after the Bhakti movement, Guru Nanak, the first Guru of Sikhs also preached the message of equality between men and women. He advocated that women be allowed to lead religious assemblies; to perform and lead congregational hymn singing called Kirtan or Bhajan; become members of religious management committees; to lead armies on the battlefield; have equality in marriage, and equality in Amrit (Baptism). Other Sikh Gurus also preached against the discrimination against women.
RAZIA SULTANA Razia al-Din (1205 – October 14/15, 1240), throne name Jalâlat ud-Dîn Raziyâ, usually referred to in history as Razia Sultan, was the Sultan of Delhi in India from 1236 to May 1240. She was of Turkish Seljuks slave ancestry and like some other Muslim princesses of the time, she was trained to lead armies and administer kingdoms if necessary. [1] Razia Sultana, the fifth Mamluk Sultan, one of the few female sovereigns in the history of Islamic civilization. [2] Razia as Sultan
Razia succeeded her father Shams-ud-din Iltutmish to the Sultanate of Delhi in 1236. Iltutmish became the first sultan to appoint a woman as his successor when he designated his daughter Razia as his heir apparent. (According to one source, Iltumish's eldest son had initially been groomed as his successor, but had died prematurely.) But the Muslim nobility had no intention of acceding to Iltutmish's appointment of a woman as heir, and after the sultan died on April 29, 1236, Razia's brother, Ruknuddin Feroze Shah, was elevated to the throne instead. Ruknuddin's reign was short. With Iltutmish's widow Shah Turkaan for all practical purposes running the government, Ruknuddin abandoned himself to the pursuit of personal pleasure and debauchery, to the considerable outrage of the citizenry. On November 9, 1236, both Ruknuddin and his mother Shah Turkaan were assassinated [3] after only six months in power. With reluctance, the nobility agreed to allow Razia to reign as Sultan of Delhi. As a child and adolescent, Razia had had little contact with the women of the harem, so she had not learnt the customary behavior of women in the Muslim society that she was born into. Even before she became Sultan, she was reportedly preoccupied with the affairs of state during her father's reign. As Sultan, Razia preferred a man's tunic and headdress; and contrary to custom, she would later show her face when she rode an elephant into battle at the head of her army. A shrewd politician, Razia managed to keep the nobles in check, while enlisting the support of the army and the populace. Her greatest accomplishment on the political front was to manipulate rebel factions into opposing each other. At that point, Razia seemed destined to become one of the most powerful rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. But Razia miscounted the consequences that a relationship with one of her advisers, Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut, an Abyssinian [4] Siddi (Habshi) slave , would have for her reign. According to some accounts, Razia and Yaqut were lovers (which is unlikely since Yaqut cared for the stables all day and Raziya is only known to have riden elephants); other sources simply identify them as close confidants. In any case, before long she had aroused the jealousy of the Turkish nobility by the favoritism she displayed toward Yaqut, who was not a Turk, when she appointed him to be Superintendent of the Stables. Eventually, a childhood friend named Malik Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda, joined a rebellion by other provincial governors who refused to accept Razia's authority.
A battle between Razia and Altunia ensued, with the result that Yaqut was killed and Razia taken prisoner. To escape death, Razia agreed to marry Altunia. In some accounts, as demonstrated in Anant Pai's famous comic 'Sultan Razia,' Altunia and Razia are made out to be lovers. Meanwhile, Razia's brother, Muizuddin Bahram Shah, had usurped the throne. After Altunia and Razia undertook to take back the sultanate from Bahram through battle, both Razia and her husband defeated on 24th of Rabi' al-awwal A.H. 638 (Oct. 1240), and fled Delhi and reached Kaithal the next day, where their remaining forces abandoned them, and they both fell into the hands of the enemy and were killed on 25th of Rabi' al-awwal A.H. 638[5], this [6] date corresponds to October 14, 1240 . Bahram, for his part, would later be dethroned for incompetence. GOND QUEEN DURGAVATI Rani Durgavati (October 5, 1524 – June 24, 1564) was born in the family of famous [Rajput] Chandel Emperor Keerat Rai. She was born at the fort of Kalanjar (Banda, Uttar Pradesh). Chandel Dynasty is famous in the Indian History for the defense of king Vidyadhar who repulsed the muslim attacks of Mahmud Ghaznavi. His love for sculptures is shown in the world famed temples of Khajuraho and Kalanjar fort. Rani Durgavati's achievements further enhanced the glory of her ancestral tradition of courage and patronage of arts.
In 1542, she was married to Dalpat Shah, the eldest son of king Sangram Shah of Gond Dynasty. Chandel and Gond dynasties got closer as a consequence of this marriage and that was the reason Keerat Rai got the help of Gonds and his sonin-law Dalpat Shah at the time of muslim invasion of Sher Shah Suri in which Sher Shah died. She gave birth to a son in 1545 CE. who was named Vir Narayan. Dalpat Shah died in about 1550 CE. As Vir Narayan was too young at that time, Durgavati took the reins of the Gond kingdom in her hands. Two ministers Adhar Kayastha and Man Thakur helped the Rani in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. Rani moved her capital to Chauragarh in place of Singaurgarh. It was a fort of strategic importance situated on the Satpura hill range. After the death of Sher shah, Sujat Khan captured the Malwa zone and was succeeded by his son Baz Bahadur in 1556 CE. After ascending to the throne, he attacked Rani Durgavati but the attack was repulsed with heavy losses to his army. This defeat effectively silenced Baz Bahadurand the victory brought name and fame for Rani Durgavati. In the year 1562 Akbar vanquished the Malwa ruler Baz Bahadur and annexed the Malwa under Mughal dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of Rani touched the Mughal Sultanate. Rani's contemporary was a Mughal General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan , an ambitious man who vanquished Ramchandra, the ruler of Rewa. Prosperity of Rani Durgavati's state lured him and he invaded Rani's state after taking permission from Mughal emperor Akbar. When Rani heard about the attack by Asaf Khan she decide to defend her kingdom with all her might although her minister Adhar pointed out the strength of Mughal forces. Rani maintained that it was better to die respectfully than to live a disgraceful life. To fight a defensive battle, she went to Narrai situated between a hilly range on one side and two rivers Gaur and Narmada on the other side. It was an unequal battle with trained soldiers and modern weapons in multitude on one side and a few untrained soldiers with old weapons on the other side. Her Faujdar Arjun Das was killed in the battle and Rani decided to lead the defence herself. As the enemy entered the valley, soldiers of Rani attacked them. Both sides lost some men but Rani was victorious in this battle. She chased the Mughal army and came out of the valley. At this stage Rani reviewed her strategy with her counselors. She wanted to attack the enemy in the night to enfeeble them but her lieutenants did not accept her suggestion. By next morning Asaf khan had summoned big guns. Rani rode on her elephant Sarman and came for the battle. Her son Vir Narayan also took part in this battle. He forced Mughal army to move back three times but at last he got wounded and had to retire to a safe place. In the course of battle Rani also got injured near her ear with an arrow. Another arrow pierced her neck and she lost her consciousness. On regaining consciousness she perceived that defeat was imminent. Her Mahout advised her to leave the battlefield but she refused and took out her dagger and killed herself on June 24, 1564. Her death is celebrated in India as a "martyrdom day" on June 24.In the year 1983, the Government of Madhya Pradesh renamed the University of Jabalpur as Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya in her memory. Government of India paid its tribute to her by issuing a postal-stamp commemorating her death, on 24 June 1988.
CHAND BIBI Chand Bibi (1550 – 1599), also known as Chand Khatun or Chand Sultana, was an Indian Muslim woman warrior. She acted as the Regent of Bijapur (1580-90) and Regent of Ahmednagar (1596-99)[1]. Chand Bibi is best known for defending Ahmednagar against the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar.
Chand Bibi was the daughter of Hussain Nizam Shah I of Ahmednagar [2], and the sister of Burhan-ul-Mulk, the Sultan of Ahmednagar. She knew many languages including Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Marathi and Kannada. She played sitar, and [3] painting flowers was her hobby . Bijapur Sultanate
Following an alliance policy, Chand Bibi was married to Ali Adil Shah I of the Bijapur Sultanate [4]. Her husband had a stepwell (bawdi) constructed near the eastern boundary of Bijapur and named it Chand Bawdi after her [5]. Ali Adil Shah's father, Ibrahim Adil Shah I had divided power between the Sunni nobles, the Habshis and the Deccanis. However, Ali Adil Shah favored Shi'as[6]. After his death in 1580, the Shi'a nobles proclaimed his nine-year old nephew Ibrahim Adil Shah II as the ruler [7]. A Deccani general called Kamal Khan sieged the power and became the regent. Kamal Khan showed disrespect to Chand Bibi, who felt that he had ambitions to usurp the throne. Chand Bibi plotted an attack against Kamal Khan, with help from another general, Haji Kishvar Khan[7]. Kamal Khan was captured while fleeing and was beheaded in the fort. Kishvar Khan became the second regent of Ibrhaim. He defeated the Ahmednagar Sultan at Dharaseo, capturing all the artillery and elephants of the enemy army. He then ordered other Bijapur generals to surrender all captured elephants to him. The elephants were highly valued and the generals took great offense. The generals, along with Chand Bibi, hatched a plan to eliminate Kishvar Khan with help from General Mustafa Khan of Bankapur. Kishvar Khan's spies informed him of the [7] conspiracy. Kishvar Khan sent troops against Mustafa Khan, who was captured and killed in the battl e . Chand Bibi challenged Kishvar Khan, who got her imprisoned at the Satara fort and tried to declare himself the king. However, Kishvar Khan was already unpopular among rest of the generals. He was forced to flee, when a joint army led by a Habshi general called Ikhlas Khan marched to Bijapur. The army consisted of forces of three Habshi nobles: Ikhlas Khan, [6] Hamid Khan and Dilavar Khan . Kishvar Khan tried his luck at Ahmednagar unsuccessfully, and then fled to Golconda. He was killed in exile by a relative of Mustafa Khan. Chand Bibi was then declared the regen t[7]. Ikhlas Khan then became the regent, but he was dismissed by Chand Bibi shortly afterwards. Later, he resumed his dictatorship, which was soon challenged by the other Habshi general s[6]. Taking advantage of the situation in Bijapur, Ahmednagar's Nizam Shahi sultan allied with the Qutb Shahi of Golconda to attack Bijapur. The troops available at Bijapur were not sufficient to repulse the joint attack [7]. The Habshi generals realized that they could not defend the city alone, and tended their resignation to Chand Bibi[6]. Abu-ul-Hassan, a Shi'a general appointed by Chand Bibi, called for the Maratha [7] forces in Carnatic. The Marathas attacked the invaders' supply line s . Finally, the Ahmednagar-Golconda allied army had to retreat, Ikhlas Khan then attacked Dilavar Khan to seize the control of Bijapur. However, he was defeated and Dilavar Khan became the regent from 1582 to 1591[6]. When order was restored in Bijapur kingdom, Chand Bibi returned to Ahmednagar.
NUR JAHAN
) (alternative spelling Noor Jahan, Nur Jehan, Nor Jahan, etc.) (1577 – 1645), Begum Nur Jahan (Persian/Urdu: also known as Mehr-un-Nisaa, was an Empress of the Mughal Dynasty, of Persian origin whose tomb lies in Lahore, Pakistan. Begum Nur Jahan was the twentieth and favourite wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, who was her second husband - and the most famous Empress of the Mughal Empire. The story of the couple's infatuation for each other and the relationship that
abided between them is the stuff of many (often apocryphal) legends. She remains historically significant for the sheer amount of imperial authority she wielded - the true "power behind the throne," as Jehangir was battling serious addictions to alcohol and opium throughout his reign - and is known as one of the most powerful women who ruled India with an iron fist. Birth
Kandahar (Candahar ), Nur Jahan's place of birth, is now southern Afghanistan
Begum Nur Jahan was born in 1577 in Kandahar (now in Afghanistan) to traveling Persians from Tehran (now in Iran). Her Persian- born grandfather, who was in the service of Shah Tahmasp I, died in Yazd, laden with honours. His heirs, however, soon fell upon hard times. His son Mirza Ghias Beg (known as Itmad-ud-Daulah, "Pillar of the State", a title conferred on him by Akbar) travelled to India with his family where he rose to become an administrative official in the Mughal court. For their journey, Ghias Beg and his wife, Asmat Begum, joined a caravan travelling southward under the leadership of a merchant noble named Malik Masud. While still in Persian territory, less than half the way to their destination, Ghias Beg's party was attacked by robbers and the family lost almost everything it owned. Left with only two mules, Ghias Beg, his expectant wife, their children, Muhammad Sharif, Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan, and one daughter, took turns riding on the backs of the animals. When the group reached Kandahar, Asmat Begum gave birth to her fourth child and second daughter, Mehrun-Nisaa. Marriage with Sher Afghan
Mehr-Un-Nisaa was married to Sher Afghan Quli Khan when she was seventeen in 1594, the marriage arranged by Akbar. In 1605, Mehr-Un-Nisaa gave birth to a daughter, also called Mehr-Un-Nisaa (later at court she was named Ladli), MehrUn-Nisaa was the one and only child she ever had. In 1607, Sher Afghan Quli Khan was killed during a misunderstanding. During this time Sher Afghan Quli Khan had held the title of Sher Afghan, granted to him by Jahangir as Quli saved his life from an angry tigress. Also notice, during this time, Jahangir may have been asking Sher Afghan Quli Khan to give MehrUn-Nisaa to him, for his harem, although the truth of this is incertain, as Jahangir married her in 1611, after she had been at court (see below) for four years. Marriage with Jahangir
The emperor Akbar died in 1605 and was succeeded by prince Salim, who took the regal name Jahangir. After her husband Sher Afghan (who was appointed as jagirdar of Bardhaman, a city in Bengal) was killed in 1607, Mehr-un-Nisaa became a lady-in-waiting to one of the Jahangir's stepmothers, Ruqayya Sultana Begum. Ruqayya was the most senior woman in the harem and had been Akbar's first and principal wife and was also the daughter of Mirza Hindal. The father of Mehr-un Nisaa was, at that time, a diwan to an amir-ul-umra, decidedly not a very high post. The year 1607 had not been particularly good for Mehr-un-Nisaa. Her family had fallen into disgrace. Her father, who had been holding important posts under Akbar and Jahangir, had succumbed to his only weakness, money, and had been charged with embezzlement. Moreover, due to possible involvement in the pro-Khusrau assassination attempt on Jahangir in 1607, two of Mehr-un-Nisaa's family members (one brother named Muhammad Sharif and her mother's cousin) were executed on the orders of the Emperor.
In march 1611, her fortune took a turn for the better. She met the emperor Jehangir at the palace meena bazaar during the spring festival Nowruz new year. Jahangir grew so infatuated by her beauty that he proposed immediately and they were married on May 25 of the same year becoming his twentieth wife. Mehr-un-Nisaa received the name Nur Mahal (Light of the Palace), upon her marriage in 1611 and was conferred the title Nur Jahan (Light of the world) in 1616. Jahangir's actual name was Nur-ud-din Muhammad, and thus the name that he gave to his wife was his own first name combined with the first part of his regal name. Mughal empress: For Mehr-un-Nisaa's own immediate family, marriage to Jahangir became a great boon with several members receiving sizeable endowments and promotions as a result. This affection led to Nur Jahan wielding a great deal of actual power in affairs of state. The Mughal state gave absolute power to the emperor, and those who exercised influence over the emperor gained immense influence and prestige. Jahangir's addiction to opium and alcohol made it easier for Nur Jahan to exert her influence. For many years, she effectively wielded imperial power and was recognized as the real force behind the Mughal throne. She even gave audiences at her palace and the ministers consulted with her on most matters. Indeed, Jahangir even permitted coinage to be struck in her name, something that traditionally defined sovereignty. Through Nur Jahan's influence, her family, including her brother Asaf Khan, consolidated their position at court. Asaf Khan was appointed grand Wazir (minister) to Jahangir, and his daughter Arjumand Banu Begum (later known as Mumtaz Mahal) was wed to Prince Khurram (the future Shah Jahan), the third son of Jahangir, born by a Rajput princess, Jagat Gosaini. Jahangir's eldest son Khusrau had rebelled against the Emperor and was blinded as a result. The second son, Parviz, was weak and addicted to alcohol. The fourth son was Prince Shahryar, born by a royal concubine. Khurram rebelled against his father and a war of succession broke out. Due to Khurram's intransigence, Nur Jahan shifted her support to his younger brother, Shahryar. She arranged the marriage of her own daughter Ladli Begum, born of her first marriage, to her stepson [1] Shahryar . The two weddings ensured that one way or another, the influence of Nur Jahan's family would extend over the Mughal Empire for at least another generation. Jahangir was captured by rebels in 1626 while he was on his way to Kashmir. Nur Jahan intervened to get her husband released. Jahangir was rescued but died on October 28, 1627. After Jahangir's death, Nur Jahan devoted some of her life to the making of perfume, an art form her mother had passed down. Death Nur Jahan's Mausoleum in Shahdara Bagh, Lahore, Pakistan
When Jahangir died in 1628, Nur Jahan's brother Asaf Khan took the side of his son-in-law Khurrum against his sister. It was Khurram who became the new Mughal emperor under the regal name Shah Jahan. Nur Jahan was confined to a comfortable mansion for the rest of her life. During this period, she paid for and oversaw the construction of her father's mausoleum in Agra, known now as Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, and occasionally composed Persian poems under the assumed name of Makhfi [1]. Nur Jahan died in 1645 at age 68, and is buried at Shahdara Bagh in Lahore, Pakistan in a tomb she had built herself, near the tomb of Jahangir. Her brother Asaf Khan's tomb is also located nearby. The tomb attracts many visitors, both Pakistani and foreign, who come to enjoy pleasant walks in its beautiful gardens. All had been personally laid out and designed by Nur Jahan herself.
WOMEN IN MODERN INDIA Modern India witnessed some developments in the status of women. There were many women reformers in India who worked for the betterment and upliftment of their other female counterparts. The begum of Bhopal discarded the
`purdah` and fought in the revolt of 1857. Many reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotiba Phule with his wife Savitribai Phule undertook various measures to eradicate social stigmas from the society. Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan established the Aligarh Muslim University for the spread of education among the Muslims. He also abolished the purdah system among Muslim women. Many Acts were passed for the upliftment of women among those Widow Remarraige Act of 1856 was important. In the modern times, women in India are given freedom and rights such as freedom of expression and equality, as well as right to get education. But still problems like dowry, female infanticide, sex selective abortions, health, domestic violence, are prevalent in the society. Unfortunately, women are killed if they bring fewer dowries after marriage. Further, women are illiterate as they have very poor knowledge about exercising their rights properly. India has a low female sex ratio. Female infanticide (killing of girl infants) is still prevalent in some rural areas of the country. Dowry is the root of many problems in India. The level of domestic violence is also high in India. Domestic violence is also prevalent because of `dowry`. Trafficking is also a big reason for female abuse. Trafficking means girls are sold to big people for satisfying their sexual needs or kidnapped to make them prostitutes. The maternal mortality in India is the second highest in the world. Only a few percentages of births in the country are supervised by doctors. Most women deliver with the help of traditional nurses in the village who often lack the skills and resources to save the mother`s life if it is in danger. Women suffer many health problems because of abuse and other mal-nourishments. Thus, it can be said that the history of women in India is quite eventful. Women in India now participate in all activities such as education, politics, media, art and culture, service sectors, science and technology, etc. [5] The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State (Article 15(1)), equality of opportunity (Article 16), equal pay for equal work (Article 39(d)). In addition, it allows special provisions to be made by the State in favour of women and children (Article 15(3)), renounces practices derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e)), and also allows for provisions to be made by the State for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief. (Article 42). [21] The feminist activism in India picked up momentum during later 1970s. One of the first national level issues that brought the women's groups together was the Mathura rape case. The acquittal of policemen accused of raping a young girl Mathura in a police station, led to a wide-scale protests in 1979-1980. The protests were widely covered in the national media, and forced the Government to amend the Evidence Act, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Indian Penal Code and introduce the category of custodial rape. [21] Female activists united over issues such as female infanticide, gender bias, women health, and female literacy. Since alcoholism is often associated with violence against women in India, [22] many women groups launched anti-liquor campaigns in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and other states. [21] Many Indian Muslim women have questioned the fundamental leaders' interpretation of women's rights under the Shariat law and have criticized the triple talaq system. [13] In 1990s, grants from foreign donor agencies enabled the formation of new women-oriented NGOs. Self-help groups and NGOs such as Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) have played a major role in women's rights in India. Many women have emerged as leaders of local movements. For example, Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. The Government of India declared 2001 as the Year of Women's Empowerment ( Swashakti). [13] The National Policy For The Empowerment Of Women came was passed in 2001. [23] In 2006, the case of a Muslim rape victim called Imrana was highlighted in the media. Imrana was raped by her father-inlaw. The pronouncement of some Muslim clerics that Imrana should marry her father-in-law led to widespread protests and finally Imrana's father-in-law was given a prison term of 10 years, The verdict was welcomed by many women's groups and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. [24]
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Hindi:
इंदरा पयिशनी गांधी Indirā
Priyadarśinī
Gāndhī; née: Nehru; (19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was the prime minister of the Republic of India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984, a total of fifteen years. She was India's first, and to date only, female prime minister. She was the world's longest serving woman Prime Minister. Being the first woman Prime Minister of India, and an influential leader, in a prevalently male-dominated society, Indira Gandhi is a symbol of feminism in [citation needed ] India.
The goodwill of the rural population earned by Gandhi still has its effects on the success of the Congress Party in rural India, as well as the popular support of the [citation needed ] Nehru-Gandhi Family. She is reverently remembered in many parts of rural India as Indira- Amma (" Amma" means "mother" in many Indian languages).[citation needed ] Her Garibi Hatao slogan is still used by the Congress during political campaigns. The present president of the Indian National Congress, Sonia Gandhi, who is also the daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi, is said to style herself in resemblance to her. The Indira Awaas Yojana, a programme of the central government to provide low-cost housing to rural poor, is named after her. The international airport at New Delhi is named as the Indira Gandhi International Airport in her honour.
Pratibha Devisingh Patil (Marathi:
तभा ेवींह ऩाटऱ ) (born 19 December 1934) is
the 12th and current President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Pratibha Patil, a member of the Indian National Congress (INC), was nominated by the ruling United Progressive Alliance and Indian Left. She won the presidential election held [1][2][3] on 19 July 2007 defeating her nearest rival Bhairon Singh Shekhawat . Patil represented Edlabad constituency in Jalgaon District, Maharashtra as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (1962 – 1985), and was deputy chairwoman of the Rajya Sabha (1986 – 1988), Member of Parliament from Amravati in the Lok Sabha (1991 – 1996), and the 24th, and the first woman Governor of Rajasthan (2004 – 2007). Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil was born on December 19, 1934 in Nadgaon village of Jalgaon District, Maharashtra. Smt. Patil assumed office as the 12th President of India on July 25, 2007. She is the first woman to have been elected to this august office. Immediately prior to election as the President of India, Smt. Patil was the Governor of Rajasthan from November 8, 2004 till June 21, 2007. Smt. Patil received her early education from RR Vidyalaya, Jalgaon and later obtained her Master’s degree in Political Science and Economics from the Mooljee Jetha College, Jalgaon. Later, she obtained the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Government Law College, Bombay (Mumbai). While in college, she took active part in sports, excelled in table tennis and won several shields at various Inter-collegiate tournaments. Even as an MLA, she pursued her studies as a law student.
Smt. Patil started her professional career as a practicing lawyer at the Jalgaon District Court and simultaneously devoted herself to various social activities, especially, for the upliftment of poor women.
SONIA GANDHI [1][2]
Sonia Gandhi (Born Edvige Antonia Albina Maino in Lusiana, Italy on 9 December 1946) is the Italian- born President of the Indian National Congress and the widow of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi. She also serves as the Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance in the Lok Sabha and the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.
Gandhi was named the third most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in the year 2004 [3] and was ranked 6th [4] [5] in 2007. She was also named among the Time 100 most influential people in the world for the years 2007 and 2008. 2004 elections and aftermath In the 2004 general elections, Gandhi launched a nationwide campaign, criss-crossing the country on the Aam Aadmi (ordinary man) slogan in contrast to the 'India Shining' slogan of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance. She countered the BJP asking "Who is India Shining for?" In the election, she won by a large margin in the Rae Bareilly constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Following the unexpected defeat of the NDA, she was widely expected to be the next Prime Minister of India. On 16 May, she was unanimously chosen to lead a 15-party coalition government with the support of the left, which was subsequently named the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). After the election result, the defeated NDA protested once against her 'foreign origin' and senior NDA leader Sushma Swaraj threatened to shave her head and "sleep on the ground", among other things, should Sonia become prime minister [15] . The NDA also claimed that there were legal reasons that barred her from the Prime Minister's post .[16] They pointed, in particular, to Section 5 of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955, which they claimed implied 'reciprocity'. This was contested by other s[17] and eventually the suits were dismissed by the Supreme Court of India. A few days after the election, Gandhi appointed Manmohan Singh as prime minister. Her supporters compared it to the old Indian tradition of renunciation[18], while her opponents attacked it as a political stunt .[19]. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi speaking at India Economic Summit 2006
On 18 May, she recommended noted economist Dr. Manmohan Singh for the Prime Minister's post. On 23 March 2006, Gandhi announced her resignation from the Lok Sabha and also as chairperson of the National Advisory Council under the office-of-profit controversy and the speculation that the government was planning to bring an ordinance to exempt the post of chairperson of National Advisory Council from the purview of office of profit. She was re-elected from her constituency Rae Bareilly in May 2006 by a huge margin of over 400,000 votes. As chairperson of the National Advisory Committee and the UPA chairperson, she played an important role in making the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information Act into law.[20][21] She addressed the United Nations on 2 October 2007, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary which is observed as the [22] international day of non-violence after a UN resolution passed on 15 July 2007 . Under her leadership, India returned the Congress-led-UPA to a near majority in the 2009 general elections with Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister. The Congress itself won 206 Lok Sabha seats, which was the highest total by any party since 1991. Austerity drive
Sonia Gandhi advocated austerity for all the congress MPs and set an example by travelling in economy class on her 14 [23][24] September 2009 travel from New Delhi to Mumbai. She saved Rs 10,000 . She also advocated for contribution of 20% of MPs salary (An MPs monthly salary is Rs 16,000) for the drought affected victims in India. Personal life Sonia Gandhi 2009
Sonia is the widow of the late Rajiv Gandhi, elder son of Indira Gandhi. Her son, Rahul Gandhi, was elected to Parliament from the Amethi constituency (UP) in 2004. Her daughter Priyanka Gandhi has not stood for office, though she has worked as a Congress campaign manager. There has been considerable media speculation about their future in the Congress. Controversies
1980s voting registration In 1980 her name appeared in the voter's list for New Delhi prior to her becoming an Indian Citizen. At the time she was [25] still holding Italian Citizenship. A violation of Form 4 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which states that "Only [26] the names of those who are citizens of India should be entered on the electoral rolls. " When she did acquire Indian Citizenship, in April 1983, the same issue cropped up again, as her name appeared on the 1983 voter's list when the deadline for registering had been in January 1983
SHEILA DIKSHIT Sheila Dikshit
Sheila Dikshit giving an Interview
Chief Minister of Delhi In office 1998- Incumbent Preceded by
Sushma Swaraj [1]
Constituency
New Delhi
Born
31 March 1938 (age 72) Kapurthala, Punjab
Political party
Indian National Congress
Spouse(s)
Vinod Dikshit (deceased)
Children Residence
son and daughter [2] New Delhi
As of 12 November, 2008 Source: Government of Delhi
Sheila Dikshit (born 31 March 1938) has been the Chief Minister of Delhi since 1998. She is from the Indian National Congress. Dr. Dikshit was sworn in as the Chief Minister for a third consecutive term of the Government of Delhi state in January 2009 after pulling a surprise victory in November 2008 state elections. She is the second woman Chief Minister of Delhi and represents the New Delhi Constituency in the Legislative Assembly of Delhi. Early life
Sheila Dikshit was born in Kapurthala, Punjab. She holds a Master of Arts degree, she received her education at Convent of Jesus and Mary School, New Delhi and later in Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is also the recipient of Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa, from the University of Delhi. She was married into the family of Shri Umashankar Dikshit, noted freedom fighter and a former Governor and Union Cabinet Minister. (in U.P. Vill. Ugu Distt. Unnao) Her late husband Vinod Dikshit was a widely respected member of the Indian Administrative Service. She has two children, son Sandeep Dikshit[1], who is a member of parliament from East Delhi for Congress and daughter Latika Syed. Political career
During the period between 1984 and 1989, she represented Kannauj Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. As a member of Parliament, she served on the Estimates Committee of Lok Sabha. Dr. Dikshit also chaired the Implementation Committee for Commemoration of Forty Years of India's Independence and Jawaharlal Nehru centenary. She represented India at United Nations Commission on Status of Women for five years (1984 – 1989). As President of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, she led her party to victory in the Assembly elections in 1998. She has also served as a Union Minister during 1986-1989, first as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and later as a Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office. She was shortlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award. As Chief Minister of Delhi, Dikshit was awarded the Best Chief Minister of India, by Journalist Association of India on 12 July 2008. In 2009, she was awarded Politician of the Year by NDTV. Contributions
She represented India on the U.N. Commission on Status of Women for five years (1984 – 89). In Uttar Pradesh, she along with her 82 colleagues were jailed in August 1990 for 23 days by the state government when she led a movement against the atrocities being committed on women. Electrified by this, hundreds of thousands of citizens all over UP joined the movement and courted arrest. Earlier, in the early 1970s, she was chairperson of the Young Women's Association and was instrumental in the setting up two of most successful hostels for working women in Delhi. She is also the Secretary of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. The trust has come to play a leading role in promotion of international understanding. It presents the Indira Gandhi Award for Peace, Disarmament and Development and Organizes conferences on issues of the global concern.
