Colonial era and the status of women

The status of women reached at the lowest ebb(tunnuzuli) in the Indian

subcontinent at the the dawn of the colonial era of British rule.

Pathetic position of wives in the household , lowest women literacy, evil

social practices, dogmatic(hutdharam) religious beliefs, inhumans
superstitions, sinister(dagha baz) customs are among the terrible
sufferings of Indian women to name a few.

The following social evil and the degradation made the Indian society static
for women.

1. Unilateral rights to divorce.

2. Sati
3. Male domination
4. Child marriage
5. Bonded labour
6. No right of education
7. Unethical ways of medical treatments
8. Marriage within family to stop inheritance rights

The colonial era influenced status of women in subcontinent as:

These social injustices attracted the attention of British rulers and that of
the other reformers.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Sati :

Sati : immulation(qurbani) aur suicide of a widow on husband pyre(chita).

He was an educational reformer and a humanitarian who challenged the

practice of Sati under the British rule; the rulers also opposed such
practices.
The Sati practice was outlawed in 1829 but a general ban on Sati practice
was issued by Queen Victoria in 1861.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and widow remarriage:

He was a philanthropist and a reformer who suggested that a free widow

could remarry. He also set up Schools for Girls in Calcutta.

The British officials adopted his suggestions and a law was passed in 1856
permitting widow remarriage.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah and others and child marriage :

In 1929 child marriage resultant act was passed stipulating 14 as the

minimum age of marriage through the efforts of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and
others.

Women and Property:

The Hindu women's Right to property act was passed in the year 1937
allowing women to inherit share in property of deceased husbands.

Tarabai Shinde and patriarchy :

She was a feminist activist who protested patriarchy and published her
work "Stri Purush tulana"(A Comparison between women and men)

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain and education :

An educationist who opened schools for Muslim girls in Patna and

Calcutta During the colonial era.
Pandita Ramabai :

She was an Indian Christian who tried to improve the life of women in
India.

Her book the High Caste Indian women showed the troubles of child
wives and women in India in the period of British Raj.

Conclusion ;

The colonial era was a blessing in disguise for women in the subcontinent.
With a good deal of social legislations by the British government the
women in the sub continent raised their voice against the age-old sufferings
at the the hands of orthodox society. The era also established Public
opinion giving women a sense of equality with men and a courage to dispel
all kinds of inequalities and disabilities.