The article aims to explain the status of women in society in different historical times. The social emancipation of women in the society has led her to open her for economic and leadership skills. Acts against practises like child marriage, purdah system, polygamy has now transcended into a more free and liberal society with various laws and acts being framed to protect women. Role of education is clearly defined in making women more progressive in the current scenario.

According to VikashNandalct.al., (2013). During the ancient times, the status of Indian women seems to be considerable. In the later times,status of women saw many changes in the society at a global level. His investigation shows downfall in the status of women even after having exposure to education at its discourse.

According to Mishra S.K. (1955) and Pandey, Pradeep Kumar. They suggested legal safegaurds for women in India. Laws and many acts have been framed for women protecting them in the society.

According to Shab Singh et., al., (2013). The fundamental significance of economic empowerment of rural women in the villages will largely affect the status of women in society at a large scale.

According toe Dr. (Smt.) Rajeshwari M Shettar (2015) strengthening of women has to be at monetary, social and political levels of the society to protect her from all kings of brutality.

According to Neetu Rathore (2017). PanditJawaharLal Nehru once stated : If you teach a man you instruct an individual but if you instruct a lady you instruct an entire family means women being engaged i.e. “Mother India Enabled”. Making her voice to be heard by the society.

According to Arpita Banerjee (2013). In India, the condition of women before independence had a fallout. Lately, the training, leadership, government policies and law framework have come in support of women improving her status.

‘Change’ is the reality of universe. And, every living being is moving towards achieving his or her dreams : to do better in hislife.

In this article, changing status of women in Indian society is evaluated and looked upon. India known as the land of Vedas andscriptures. These very scriptures depict the clear picture of societal information stating the well defined roles of men and women. India, our motherland : the land of gods and goddesses has seen a deterioration in the status of women since vedic times. During the vedic times, women could choose their respective spouses by organisingswayamwar, making her a decision maker in a real sense. But, the role of women was subordination to men as, men practised polygamy. ‘Arthashastra’ confirms limitations on women but young girls practised right to education.So, women enjoyed a dignified position in the society being acknowledged for their roles of wife, daughter and mother.

Later, In the post vedic age, women had to live a dark phase. Her powers, liberties and right to live a free life was suppressed. Practises like child marriage, polygamy, satipratha, devadasipratha, purdah system, female infanticide forced women to live a diminished and sorrowful life.This societal change was the result of mughal invasions which brought Hindu culture to change drastically and curb women rights and freedom. Resultantly, for the emancipation of women, social reformers of this age like Kabir,Meera, Ramdas, Nanak led the ‘Mashal’ for women rights.

Turning towards the British period, the modern education system started and it created an awareness for women upliftment and education. Practises like Satipratha, Child Marriage were banned under the revolutionary aegis of social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. British government made such practises illegal by inacting acts and legalising different rights for women such as :-

1. Sati Abolition Act (1820)

It was passed by the Governor-general Lord William Bentinck which made the practise of Sati illegal in all jurisdictions of India and subject to prosecution.

2. Hindu widow Remarriage Act, 1856

The Hindu widow’s Remaariage Act 1856 legalised the remarriage of Hindu widows in all jurisdictions of India. It was drafted by Lord Dalhousie and passed by Lord Canning before the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It was the first major social reform legislation after the abolition of Sati by Lord William Bentinck. Ishwar Chandra Vidyaragar was the protogonist campaigner for this cause.

3. The Female Infanticide Prevention Act 1870 was a legislative act passed in British India to prevent female child execution.

4. Hindu Inheritance Act, 1928

It was enacted to abolish the exclusion from inheritance of certain classes of heirs, and to remove certain doubts regarding their ability to inherit property.

5. Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929

This act fixed the age of marriage for girls at 14 years and boys at 18 Years which was later amended to 18 for girls and 21 for boys. It is popularly known as Sharda Act, after its sponsor HarbilasSharda.

In the similar context, many laws safegaurding women rights were framed like :-

i. The Indian Penal Code – (1860)

ii. Maternity Benefit Act – (1861)

iii. Indian Evidence Act – (1872)

iv. Women’s Right to Property Act (1929)

All these acts opened the doors of education and a step towords promoting gender equality for women and proved to be a breakthrough for the upliftment of women’s social status. During the British rule, it was after the Charter Act of 1813 Christian Missionaries started operating and imparting education for both men and women. The first school for girls was started by Robert May of London Missionary society in Bengal region of Chinsurah in 1818. JyotibhaPhule, another education warrior started the school for low caste people in Poona (1851). Similarly, the efforts of PrarthanaSamaj in Maharashtra, Arya Samajand JullandharSamaj in North India and the efforts of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and BadruddinTyabji for muslim youth made a fruitful dent in the field of education and created an awareness for their social role.

Women leaders like PanditaRamabai, Dr. Rukhma Bai, BhikajiCama, TarabaiShinde are some of the women political leaders in British India. And we cannot forget the political presence of Sarojini Naidu, Captain Laxmi Sehgal, Vijay LaxmiPandit creating a niche for women on political front.

Referring women’s role and status after Indian independence. The effect is unparallel and huge. On the record, the education levels have increased from the year 1951 to 2011 from 18.3% to 74.04%.

Converting women hands working in the farming fields to building a think tank with huge economic potential. According to the 2011 Population census, women’s population is 48.04% of the total populationof India. Therefore, 50% of the human resource is stored in the form of women human resourse. Resultantly, women’s education has led to significant social development restoring many social benefits such as reduced fertility rates, lowered infant mortality rates, aiming to cover the gender gap and promoting gender equality.

In order to promote women equalityGovt. of India took many steps and enacted many laws to protect and uplift women in the society, some of the acts are :-

1. The Hindu Marriage Act(1955) – This act provides women with equal rights to divorce and remarry. Also, the act prohibits polygamy, polyandry and child marriage.

2. The Hindu succession Act (1956) – This act provides women with the right and claim over parents property.

3. The hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (1956) – It provides a childless woman with the right to adopt a child and a divorced woman with the right to claim maintenance from her husband.

4. Special Marriage Act (1954) – It provides women with the rights to inter-caste marriage, love marriage.

5.  Dowry prohibition Act (1961) – It protects women from exploitation and declared dowry an unlawful activity.

All these laws are certainly creating positive environment for women rights in the society.

Relatively, women has become a major part of the workforce of the country highlighting social change. According to the study conducted by Prof. Ram Ahuja, it can be concluded that the level of awareness of rights depends upon these 4 aspects :-

i. Individual background of women

ii. The social environment of women

iii. The economic base of women

iv. Subjective perception of women

v. On the basis of above mentioned aspects Government of India has prepared a national document with an objective of enhancing and widening opportunities for women highlights the importance of three strategies :-

vi. Obtaining greater political participation of women

vii. Increasing the female literacy level

viii. Empowerment of women

Taking strategies into the action mode.Govt of India had introduced 73^rd constitutional Amendment Act, 1993. This amendment gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj System imparting political power to women.Thereafter, one third reservation of seats in for women to enhance their political numbers.

Ban on PC PNDT – (Prenatal Diagnostic testing)

i. Pre-conception andPre natal Diagnostic techniques Act, 1994 is an act enacted to stop female foeticides and arrest declining sex ratio in India.

ii. The sexual Harassment of women at workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013)

iii. Income generating schemes for women for their employment.

Constitution of India has included many acts to promote gender equality in society.

Article 14 – It ensures equality before the Law which offers equal legal protection to women as well.

Article 15 – It provides the prohibition of any sort of discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste & Sex.

Article 16 – It deals with equal employment opportunity to every citizen of India irrespective of religion, race, caste sex etc.

Article 39 – It is in the 4^th part of the constitution and it safegaurds and directs a state to make policies which focus on men & women have an egual right of livehihood and ensures equal pay for equal work.

Article 243 (d)3 ensures 1/3 reservation of seats in gram panchayat.

Article 42 – says the state shall take the responsibility of providing maternity benefits to women employees.

So conclusively, women of Modern India are playing a dual role of homemakers and workers in every working sector. Their contribution in the country’s economic potential is exemplary. Women haveproved to be a focal point in the society and the changes in the status of women from an uneducated mass to educated workforce with equal rights in the society giving them security and protection and a way forward for their development Government of India has taken a action oriented plans for women empowerment leading them to redefine their role in the society.Therefore, for the betterment of the society this very human resource potential should be utilised to the fullest of its capacity and capabilities transforming the status of women as a whole and contributing in country’s progress.

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