In India's oldest text Manusmriti, it is said on women that, 'Yatra Naryasta Pujyante, Ramante Tatra Devta' which means where women are worshiped, the gods reside there. It is known from this that the importance of women has been in Indian society since ancient times. In Indian society, woman is considered as the form of Goddess Lakshmi.
Male and female are considered to be the two wheels of life. Both have equal importance in the society. At the time of ancient India, women were free, there was no restriction of any kind on women. Women used to participate in Yagyas and rituals. In the Middle Ages, as the time gradually changed, the man gave a low position to the woman for his ego.
Today again women are getting respected and respected in the society. At present, women are walking step by step with men. Along with the house, she is also handling her work area properly. She has proved today that she is no less than men in any field in terms of strength and ability.
Despite the empowerment of women, today the government has to run a scheme like 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' because even today women are crushed in the society in many places of the country. Simultaneously, today Indian woman has been colored in the color of western culture. Due to materialistic civilization, she seems to be away from the duty of her families.
Ancient Indian civilization teaches that we should worship women as God. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, has also given great importance to women. He had said about women that the status of women reflects the social, economic and mental status of a nation. In our scriptures, woman is considered a symbol of spirituality. But still women are being crushed under different practices in many places in the society today. Many programs of education and self-awareness are being organized by the government among women, due to which women today are walking on the path of progress. Today's women are strong. Also, women are progressing and achieving success in every field.
Indian women in the Vedic period
The position of Indian women was very high in the society during the Vedic period. She had got complete freedom in every field of work. Indian women were educated from an early age in the Vedic period. During this time Indian women used to participate in all religious activities. They also had the status of priests and rishis who performed rituals. There was no discrimination in the upbringing of a son or a daughter.
In the Vedic period, Indian women had full right to choose their life partner, married women were addressed as Ardhangini. Women took part in public life. The practice of untouchability, sati system, purdah system and child marriage was also not prevalent in this era. Women had equal rights in education, religion, politics and property rights and in almost all matters. It would not be wrong to say that the Vedic period was like a golden period for Indian women.
Indian women in ancient times
Then gradually the status of women started changing in ancient times. In ancient times, women were deprived of rights, education, freedom, religious rituals etc. At that time people believed that a woman should remain under the father in her childhood, under her husband in her youth and under the protection of her son after her husband's death.
At this time the era of atrocities against women had started. Women began to impose restrictions on women like staying in the veil, obeying the orders of men, not answering in front of anyone, staying in the boundary wall. Now people started considering women only as a machine to produce children.
During this time people used to wish for the birth of a son. Women were instructed to follow the religion of Pativrat and to consider the husband as the form of God etc. The status of uneducated and under-educated and lower class women had started deteriorating.
Indian women in medieval times
The period of 18th century can be called medieval period. This period is considered as the black age in the perspective of women. During this time the Muslims established their suzerainty over the country of India. He forced Hindu women to convert to religion and started atrocities with them. Hindus began to impose many restrictive instructions on women.
The condition of women became pathetic during this period. He was kept like a slave in the house. The woman was forced to live in the confinement of the boundary wall of the house. At that time the purdah system was in full swing. Child marriages were encouraged. The women of that time were deprived of education. In the medieval period the freedom of women was taken away in every way and they were subjected to men from birth till death. In this era, women were being exploited by making them servants. Women were also sold in brothels.
Indian women in modern times
Indian women saw a lot of improvement during the British rule. The British also destroyed many corruptions towards women of Indian society. Practices like Sati Pratha and child marriage were strictly enforced and put to an end. Many Indian women were also active in the movement against the British and they faced the British till the last breath of life and made their name immortal on the pages of history.
Women played an important role in the freedom struggle of India. Today Indian women are participating in the field of education, politics, media, art and culture, service sector, science and technology etc. Today women are becoming powerful, due to which she can take every decision related to her life and live well in family and society.
Conclusion
Today Indian women have reached the holiday, but still dowry system, feticide and domestic violence have set their feet in some corner of the society. Therefore, amidst all this, it is a matter of happiness that in today's world Indian woman has a different identity.
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