In Bharat, since ancient times, women have been an integral part of the nation’s history and culture. That women had continued to play a decisive role in shaping the country’s socio-political narratives was shown by their great contribution towards the country’s freedom struggle against the British mpire. Women had enjoyed equal rights with men. This was evidenced by their involvement in framing the Constitution as well–15 members of the Constituent Assembly were women. When we achieved freedom in 1947, in advanced countries like Britain that had built up empires by exploiting the rich resources of nations like Bharat, their women had no right to vote. It prompted the feminist movement in Europe during the early 20th century, the initial stage of which had to focus on women’s suffrage along with other legal rights. Whereas in Bharat’s, women have always been enjoying not only equal rights with men but an added privilege granted to motherhood also, as has been pointed out by famous thinkers like Will Durant, Arthur L Basham etc.
Values Based on Eternal Truth
Even in the spiritual tradition that forms the cornerstone of Bharatiya culture, right from the ancient period we had eminent women personalities like Gargi, Maitreyi, Ahalya, Anasuya, Sabari, Amba, Gandhari and so on. But the neo liberals of today do not understand that in Bharat, men and women have always been considered as two sides of the same coin and that it is based on the Ekātma theory that recognises the truth of one fundamental principle not only in all living beings but in the whole of creation as well. Since this holistic vision forms the hallmark of Hinduism, it is more spiritual than religious and is referred to as Sanatan Dharma, i.e. values of life based on one ultimate eternal truth. This eminent tradition has continued throughout the ages inspite of frequent foreign invasions, as an ever-burning lamp. It started blazing now with the great measures undertaken in favour of women by the Narendra Modi Government.
Mahila Samanvay Vedi
It is a national forum of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the most prominent national volunteer organisation that comprises Karma – yogis, who do selfless service in the interest of our nation’s prosperity and well-being. There are around 40 Sangh inspired organisations, some are comprised exclusively of women, for instance Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Siksha Bharati, Durga Vahini and so on. Samanvay Vedi is a forum meant to discuss and exchange the ideas and the nature of activities undertaken by the various organisations of the Parivar. It helps to integrate the varied functions of the Parivar in different domains under the common banner of national welfare. Mahila Samanvay Vedi reflects the attitude of Bharatiya society that women share with men, equal rights and responsibilities in shaping the future of the nation. The Vedi has been constituted especially to conduct programmes that promote the cause of equal opportunities for women and also protection of women against atrocities. The activities of the Mahila Samanvay clearly depict the significance that the Sangh Parivar grants to the progression of women.
The National Mahila Samanvay has been conducting seminars in various States to bring home various aspects of women upliftment. Last year, as its special programme the Mahila Samanvay put in a massive exertion to back up the stupendous efforts of the Modi Government towards the upliftment of women. The initiatives taken include
- Conducting of seminars at the national, state and district levels to identify the various difficulties that dissuade women from undertaking social activities
- Motivate women to take up challenging opportunities and become leaders in profession and business
- Provide opportunity for women folk of villages along with that of the metropolitan cities to assume leading roles in public activities in their own respective communities and organisations
- Make women aware of their equal rights and duties as citizens
- Alert women to prevent exploitation
- Provide a secure environment for women to progress
In addition, the Samanvay conveys to women the importance of their financial freedom. Economic independence provides them with opportunities to make free choices about their lives. It also makes them participate in enhancing the national economy as well as the domestic. Today, Bharat has become the fastest growing economy of the world. The country can reach the pinnacle of economic growth if its women, constituting nearly half of the population, also reach out to help national advancement.
Mahila Samanvay in Kerala
Within the last one year, National Mahila Samanvay conducted more than 500 mass conferences in various parts of the country, each attracting thousands of women. Activities of Mahila Samanvay in Kerala deserves special mention in that it was widely recognised and acclaimed by the public. It was quite unprecedented in the history of Kerala to platform such huge gatherings for the cause of women’s empowerment.
All the districts, were covered 14 mega conventions were held; each one saw thousands of women participants. All meetings were organised, chaired and participated exclusively by women including Central Ministers and other national dignitaries as chief guests. Other leading women in various professions and business enterprises at the state-district-taluk village levels also took part in these grand symposiums.
In Kerala, during the modern period several Hindu Acharyas and writers had taken up the cause of women liberation. But today’s vote bank politics is of the nature of foiling the efforts of those great reformers. Of course, disguised as social workers, some activists bring women to public forums raising slogans of gender equality, equal opportunity, freedom etc. but with devious intentions. The true nature of their underhand tactics has come to light recently in a programme run by a Marxist-islamists alliance. A large number of poets including office-bearers of Kerala Sahitya Academy participated in it, but female poets were not allowed to take part, though there are innumerable poetesses in Kerala. There arose accusations in certain quarters that women were not permitted since the function was held in connection with the religion of Islam. The contradiction here is two-fold.
How could the Islamists accommodate recitation of poems since even the display of innate human creativity is considered illegitimate (harām) by the fundamentalists who excluded women from the programme? The other contradiction is that Marxists, who joined hands with the Islamists, washed their hands of their own dogma of dialectical materialism that ‘religion is the opium of the people’. On one hand, we come across dogmatists pulling the wheel of women’s progress backwards by conducting such ridiculous programmes with the blind belief that they are marching forward and call themselves ‘neo liberals’. On the other hand, we see forums like Mahila Samanvay putting in great effort to move the machinery of progress in favour of women.
A special programme of the Mahila Samanvay conducted last year on November 5th as a prelude to the grand convention in Thiruvananthapuram deserves mention in this context. It was a unique performance where 21 poetesses recited their own poems. The subject of all the poems was women-oriented, various trials, disadvantages and stumbling blocks women face at home and work place that impede their progress. As a continuation of the programme, a book was published, i.e. a collection of poems on the subject Pañca Kanya Smrti released by the well-known writer Prof George Onakkur and received by Yedu VijayaKrishnan the film director and writer. On November 1, 2023, another notable event arranged by the Mahila Samanvay was Kalaripayattu, a traditional martial art form of Kerala, where more than 30 girls displayed their martial skills.
Personal freedom for everybody to grow is the primary indication of any culturally advanced society and forms the ideal of a nation. Thus, gender equality and sufficient opportunities for the fair sex to grow determines the culture of a country and its economy too. To quote RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat: “To progress, allow women equal rights and freedom to work. If women are given freedom they can help everyone grow”. This expression contains respect and esteem regarding the women of Bharat, for they can shoulder responsibilities both inside and outside their homes.
Individual freedom, as we know, is not unfettered or absolute as some neo-liberals imagine. When the neo-liberals demand absolute individual freedom, their aim is not progressive but misleading. They are actually asking for unrestricted sensory pleasures. Sensory craving is not freedom but enslavement. Since we have to respect every one’s freedom to grow, it necessitates certain standards of conduct. These standards are prescribed not merely by the law of the land but by the basic values of life or Dharma. While the law points out the wrong-doings and the punishments thereof, Dharma equips as with the wisdom that reveals the right path. Bharat is the motherland of a great variety of cultural communities speaking different languages and following different religions. Yet they stand united because the humanitarian import of the culture of this land based on Dharma cannot be denied by anyone. Thus in Bharat along with the Law, Dharma is also held in high esteem since every living being has a proper place in it. Gender discrimination cannot be admitted either in the system of Law oras per our Dharma.
Today many of the old customs have become obsolete throughout the world. Even ‘the established truths’ of the physical sciences, for instance some of the concepts of Newtonian Physics have turned out false. In this context some people call this age as one of post-realism. But for Bharat, the land of the ultimate wisdom, there exists nothing like post-realism. For it this is the age of awakening of its traditional wisdom that supports life, culture and progress. The narratives of an age should not be left to immature minds to dictate. It should be determined by those who have judicious vision and synoptic insight. The Amritotsav period of Bharat should be the initiation of an age of spiritual and moral wisdom and women have a major role to play in making it meaningful.
