Women In India’s Freedom Struggle

Abstract

Women in Ancient India occupied a dignified place. They participated in the outdoor life as circumstances and situations demanded and there were hardly any prescribed positions exclusively earmarked for men. Women continued enjoying the same position more or less until the Muslim invasions from the North West. Due to the invaders and foreign conquerors the easiest means to safeguard Indian woman was child marriage, purdah system, sati, Infanticide and prejudices against women’s education etc. All these measures adopted by the Hindu society to save the honour of their women, actually hampered the progress of women. Yet there appeared throughout the ages some women who excelled as administrators, warriors, reformers and religious teachers. There are women like Padamini, Razia begam, Durgawati who fought against male dominance like Akbar and Chandbibi who defeated the Ahmednagar fort represents the warriors and administrators amongst the women.