Course Code: MHI-106
Assignment Code: MHI-106/AST/TMA/2024-25
The participation of women in the Indian national movement was significant and transformative. Women from various backgrounds, regions, and communities actively engaged in the struggle for India’s independence, breaking social norms and contributing to the cause in multiple ways. Their involvement evolved over time, reflecting broader changes in both the political landscape and societal attitudes towards gender roles. The participation of women can be understood through different phases of the national movement, highlighting their role in mass movements, revolutionary activities, and leadership.
1. Early Participation and Social Reform Movements
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, women’s participation in the national movement was closely linked to the social reform movements led by figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Jyotirao Phule. These movements advocated for women’s education, abolition of sati, and widow remarriage, helping create a foundation for women’s public participation in the later political struggles.
- Annie Besant, a British woman living in India, was a key figure during this period. She led the Home Rule Movement (1916), which sought greater self-governance for India. Women, both Indian and European, supported the movement, marking the beginning of their active involvement in the political sphere.
2. Gandhian Era and Mass Movements
The participation of women took a significant turn during the Gandhian phase of the national movement. Mahatma Gandhi emphasized non-violence and mass mobilization, encouraging women to step out of their homes and join the struggle. Gandhi’s call for satyagraha and civil disobedience resonated with women, as he portrayed it as an extension of their traditional roles of patience, endurance, and sacrifice.
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22): Women were actively involved in the boycott of British goods, picketing liquor shops, and burning foreign cloth. Many women gave up wearing foreign clothes and adopted khadi, the handwoven cloth symbolizing self-reliance.
- Salt March (1930): The Dandi March and the subsequent Civil Disobedience Movement saw the participation of women on a large scale. Leaders like Sarojini Naidu played a crucial role in organizing women. Women marched, courted arrest, and boycotted British goods, defying societal expectations of remaining within the domestic sphere.
- Quit India Movement (1942): During this movement, which called for the immediate end of British rule, women took on a more assertive and militant role. Many women leaders were arrested and imprisoned, including Aruna Asaf Ali, who became a symbol of defiance for hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, despite the presence of British forces.
3. Role of Revolutionary Women
Women also played a significant role in the revolutionary movements that aimed at overthrowing British rule through armed struggle. Many of these women were inspired by patriotism and a desire for freedom, often risking their lives.
- Kalpana Dutta and Pritilata Waddedar were key figures in the Chittagong Armoury Raid led by Surya Sen in 1930. Both women participated in armed activities against the British and were involved in attacks on colonial institutions.
- Bhikaji Cama, a prominent revolutionary, lived in exile in Europe and campaigned for Indian independence. She unfurled the first version of the Indian flag in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1907, symbolizing the growing global consciousness of the Indian freedom struggle.
- Usha Mehta was known for her role in running a secret Congress radio station during the Quit India Movement. Despite the threat of arrest and imprisonment, she transmitted news and messages to inspire and organize the resistance.
4. Women Leaders and Iconic Figures
Several women rose to prominence as national leaders during the freedom movement. These women not only represented the aspirations of Indian women but also challenged the patriarchal norms of Indian society.
- Sarojini Naidu, known as the “Nightingale of India”, was one of the most prominent women leaders. She was the first Indian woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress (1925) and played a key role in mobilizing women for the cause of freedom.
- Kasturba Gandhi, the wife of Mahatma Gandhi, became an important figure in the various Gandhian movements. She was actively involved in campaigns against untouchability and in educating women.
- Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, participated in the freedom struggle and later became the first woman to serve as the President of the United Nations General Assembly.
- Kamala Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru’s wife, also played an active role in the civil disobedience movement. She organized women in picketing foreign cloth and liquor shops.
5. Women in Political Organizations
Many women were involved in the establishment of women’s organizations during the freedom movement. These organizations aimed to address the specific concerns of women while contributing to the larger national cause.
- The All India Women’s Conference (AIWC), founded in 1927, was a platform where women from different regions and backgrounds came together to discuss issues related to women’s education, social reform, and participation in the political movement.
- The Women’s India Association (WIA), established by Annie Besant and others, played a role in organizing women for the nationalist cause and social reform.
6. Challenges Faced by Women
While women played an important role in the national movement, they often faced resistance from within the movement itself, as it was dominated by male leadership. Women’s issues were sometimes sidelined, and their participation was often seen as symbolic rather than substantive.
Despite this, the national movement allowed women to enter the public sphere, assert their political rights, and challenge traditional gender roles. Their participation in the movement also laid the groundwork for their involvement in post-independence politics, social reforms, and women’s rights movements.
Conclusion
Women’s participation in the Indian national movement was a significant step towards gender equality and emancipation. They not only contributed to the cause of India’s freedom but also paved the way for the recognition of women’s rights in independent India. Their involvement showcased their courage, leadership, and dedication to the nation, fundamentally reshaping their roles in Indian society.