A Critical Analysis of Women's Right in Present Society

ABSTRACTWomen a wonderful creature on earth but alienated in her own social environment, even though the principle of gender equality is guaranteed in Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles. In India during 2013 a total of 3,09,546 cases of crime against women was reported which indicates a total raise of 26.7% compared to 2012 (NCRB, 2013). The figure very much provides the insight that how much safe is women in the present society, the dream of our Bapu is still a dream. The present study is an attempt to critically analyze the status of women in the present society, where women is provided with all the rights, reservation and equality is she really safe in this society.Keyword: Women Right, Equality, Safety of womenPita Rakshati Koumare, Bharthro Rakshathi Youvane, Putro Rakshathi Vardhakye, na Stree SwatantryamarhatiINTRODUCTION:Our Indian sub-continent is gradually emerging as a powerful land since women began playing significant role for the development of the nation. Today's Woman altogether plays a multi role in present era and such transition is worth mentioning. It was a time when a woman was considered has masters in the art of home making are now considered to be the forces behind shaping a country.There is no doubt that we are in the middle of a great revolution in the history of women. We can hear the voice of a woman everywhere, from parliament to street. It is not very easy to get her rights it was over a fight for century after which she could claim her basic rights. Unfortunately, women in this country are mostly unaware of their rights because of illiteracy and the oppressive tradition.STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDIAThere are very few literatures available which specifically provides information about the role of women; an important exception is the Stridharmapaddhati of Tryambakayajvan, an official at Thanjavur around c.1730. The text compiles strictures on womanly behaviour dating back to the Apastamba sutra (c. 4th c. BCE).Ancient IndiaLiterature reveals that in ancient India, the women enjoyed equal status with men in all fields of life. In addition they were even educated in the Vedic period. These references are available from the literature of ancient Indian Grammarians such as Katyayana and Patanjali. Women also had the freedom to select their husbands. This system was known as Swayamvar.'The status of women began to decline with the Islamic invasion as well as during the Mughal regime and in later period Christianity also restrained women's freedom and rights. The women in India faced confinement and restrictions.Medieval periodThe Indian woman's position in the society further declined during the medieval period. Practices like, Sati, child marriages, devadasi, ban on widow remarriages, Purdah, zenana became part of social life medieval Indian women. Polygamy was widely practiced. In spite of such circumstances, some women like Razia Sultana, Rani Durgavati, Kitturu Rani Chennama, Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai, Jija Bai, Meerabai, Sister Nivedita, Sharadha Mata, Annie Besant, etc, shined in the fields of politics, literature, education and religion. In India, many women administered villages, towns, divisions and headed social and religious institutions.Modern IndiaIt is Raja Ram Mohan Roy who started the movement against women's suppression and also due to the influence of British Indian culture the position of women once again undergone a change. However, it was under the leadership of Bapu, fight for equality with men was sprouted. In response to the call of Bapu they removed their veil and came out of the four walls of their houses for freedom fight along with their father, husband and brothers. The result is that the Indian Constitution today has given to equal status to women. There is no discrimination between men and women, all professions are open to both of them with merit as the only criterion of selection. …