Page 1 of 8
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online:https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 797
GANDHIAN APPROACH TOWARDS WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
SATISH KUMAR
Research Scholar, Department of Political Science
Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
ABSTRACT
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few
millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times, through the low points of the medieval
period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers. One of them is Mahatma Gandhi.
The history of women in India has been eventful. In modern India, women have adorned high
offices in India including that of the President, Prime minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leader
of Opposition etc. In fact its credit goes to Mahatma Gandhi. In India he was involved women in
Political movement first time of Satyagrah. He worked not only for the political emancipation of
the nation, but for liberation of all the suppressed and oppressed sections of society. One of the
notes worthy results of his life-work has been the awakening of women. This made them shed
their deep-rooted sense of inferiority and rises to dignity and self- esteem. Women, urban and
rural, educated and uneducated, Indian and foreign, were attracted to his ideas and deeds. An
attempt is made in the present paper to understand Gandhi's views on women in the context of
social, economic and political issues. In this paper discuss on Gandhiji’s thought on women
upliftment, against child marriage, social and religious barriers to widow remarriage, purdha
system, dowry system, heavy expenditure in connection to marriage, etc. As well as discuss on
Gandhiji’s view of women participation in politics. After Gandhi which position of women in
India also focus in this paper.
Keywords: Equality, Strength, Mahatma Gandhi, Women, Empowerment
Page 2 of 8
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online:https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 798
INTRODUCTION
Mahatma Gandhi & his ideas about women empowerment needs to be reviewed in the current
scenario. Indian women have been experiencing heavy outrageous tortures. With the economic
revolution conceded through globalization women have found good jobs but their problems with
economic self reliance remains disgustingly irrelevant. Indian women contribute less than 3% to
the Indian GDP even though they constitute 50 % of the population. The great Indian reformer
Raja Ram Mohan Roy had pleaded for inheritance right for women. Ishwara Chandra vidyasagar
championed the upliftment of women along with Jyothi Rao Phule, P.C. Sarkar & hoard of
others. Mahatma Gandhi also advocated women participation in all political struggles he waged
against the British. His concept of woman as a constant energy of righteousness can be
explained.
Mahatma Gandhi had expressed his views and had written on numerous issues that concerned the
Indian Society in particular and humanity in general. This article examines the importance and
relevance of his views on issues that directly or indirectly impacts the status of women in India.
The following issues are being considered:
Equality of Sexes
Marriage
Purdah
Dowry System
Widow Remarriage
Divorce
Women’s Honor
Education and Co-education
Birth Control
Sterilization
Page 3 of 8
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online:https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 799
The perception of the self is a matter of conditioning. The way men and women perceive
themselves is also a matter of conditioning that had and is taking place since the dawn of human
race on earth. Given the biological differences, can woman be psychologically different from
man? Can women be cerebrally inferior to man? I am sure that the answer would be clear ‘No’.
Yet, differential conditioning over many a millennia have contributed to the perception that both
men and women are different, both psychologically and cerebrally. Religion, customs and laws
from times immemorial had relegated women to the backyards of human civilization. When you
fear the power of the other and when you have no means to equal the other, you connive and lay
traps for the subjugation of the other. This is what the history of hitherto existing man’s
civilization has done to women, save exceptions like the Mahatma.
Unlike many other noble souls who wrote and worked with the principle of sexual equality in
mind, Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, sought to bring about a revolutionary change in
the status of women in the first half of the 20th century. The views expressed by the Mahatma
and the actions undertaken by him may not go entirely with the current times because the times
have irreversibly changed but the honesty of the Mahatma, the love and respect he had for
women can never be doubted.
GANDHIJI VIEW ON WOMEN LIBERTY
Gandhi worked not only for the political emancipation of the nation, but for liberation of all the
suppressed and oppressed sections of society. One of the notes worthy results of his life-work
has been the awakening of women, which made them shed their deep-rooted sense of inferiority
and rise to dignity and self- esteem. For Gandhi, "When woman, whom we all call abala
becomes sabala, all those who are helpless will become powerful". The welfare of the weaker
sections of society was dear to his heart. He had no qualms about the priority of social over
political ends. In his opinion, to postpone social reform till after the attainment of Swaraj.
GANDHIJI’S INFLUENCE ON WOMEN
