Prose
2. The Awakening of Women (K. M. Panikkar)
1. Answer any two of the following questions in about 100 words each [ 2 x 4 = 8 Marks ]
1) Why were Indian women in the 19th century were the most backward of all women in the world?
2) But when the moment was actually started, women were everywhere at the forefront. Elaborate.
3) What is the true test of the changed position of women in India.
4) Name some legislative reform mentioned in the essay, “The Awaken Of Women” that seek to establish the equality of women.
The lesson “The Awakening of Women” is written by “K.M Pannikka”. Kavalam Madhava Panikkar was a statesman diplomat, journalist, historian, and writer. He was educated in Madras and at the University of Oxford. He was a prolific writer and published numerous articles in Malayalam and English. Krishna Menon- another scholar of his times- remarked once thus; he can write history book in less than an hour which i could write in six years
In The Awakening of Women the author portrays the position of women in India. Women in ancient India enjoyed enviable position. But their status in the eighteen and nineteen century touched its lowest point.From the earliest days there had been many notable women in India- poets,scholars,capable administrators and leaders of religious movements. Even the eighteen century produced women like Ahalyabai Holkar whose administration of Indore State was considered a model for all India. The author enumerates the factors that contributed to this fall. Women in those days where isolated from the mainstream. They were kept behind the purdah, they were denied education. Child marriages were the order of the day . Once married, women were subjected to many more restrictions. Early maternity, men’s high mortality rates, and the resulting widowhood added to women’s woes. Collectively condemned women to a pathetically low condition.
Awakening of women from that pitiable position began with the Gandhian movement. When the movement actually started, women were encouraged to come forward and in the life of the nation. Gandhi’s appealed was addressed directly to the women regarding the rehabilitation of villages. Women were everywhere at the forefront. Whether it was picketing liquor shops in enforcing the boycott of foreign cloth or undertaking civil- disobedience. Later, the movement for emancipation by the Brahma Samaj and the freedom movement by Gandhiji brought considerable change in the position of women. Women actively participated with men in the freedom struggle. They came forward denying all the social taboos , sacrificing physical comforts and any restrictions enforced on them. Equal participation of women in the struggle thus became the motto of Satyagraha. The hardening effect of women growing up in an atmosphere of not only tension but calling for every sacrifice, gave the women there present place in Indian life. There was no suffragette movement in India, no feminism for the share of women in the battle of freedom
Gandhi recognized the immense untapped power that women had. He thought that it could rightly be diverted to the work of his heart. He strongly believed in equality of women, and he wrote a good number of articles in his ‘Harijan’ supporting women’s rights and privileges. But by the beginning of the 20th century, the concept of education for women had gained momentum. Some of the women tasted the fruits of modern education and started seriously the work of women’s up-liftment.
It impacted the administration in a positive way, that it brought many legislative reforms such as the equality of women, their right to independent property, freedom of marriage, education, and employment. The raising of the age of consent for marriage and the prevention of dedication of women to temple services helped them to change their status.
Although they fought against the British equally with men, they couldn’t get good posts and positions in independent India.
Thus the article deals with the status of women over various periods. Rights have been reinforced. Women’s contribution to modern India resulted in important development.
“WOMEN DON’T NEED TO FIND A VOICE, THEY HAVE A VOICE, AND THEY NEED TO FEEL EMPOWERED TO USE IT, AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN.”
OR
These lines are taken from the lesson “The Awakening Of Women” is written by “K.M Pannikka”. He was a statesman diplomat, journalist, historian, and writer. He was educated in Madras and at the University of Oxford. He was a Prolific writer and published numerous articles in Malayalam and English.
The Awakening of women is an interesting essay about the position of women in India over time. It shows the transformation of women’s position in India. The role of the Gandhian movement in effecting this change is emphatically established.
The writer points out that women in ancient India had a good place in society. The 18th and 19th centuries witnessed a drastic fall in women’s condition. The Gandhian movement affected the most spectacular transformation in women’s progress in the National Movement. Women’s achievements and their role and contribution in various fields impacted legislation and administration in a positive way.
Although they fought against the British equally with men, they couldn’t get good posts and positions in independent India.
Thus, women’s contribution to modern India resulted in important development.
