Injustice To Women : A call for an hour to understand together sincerely
- Part 1 -

Dr. Kamei Sanjit Rongmei *

TG Higher Secondary School students protesting rape of a TG Hr Sec Student on 25 Oct 2012
Pix - Banti Phurailatpam

It is not very clear that whether equal rights between men and women prevailed or not since the beginning of human life. But available sources show that liberal attitudes and practices pertaining to women did exist. In the beginning women were actively involved in religious and social matters. They were given freedom to choose their partner in marriage and a widow was permitted to re-marry.

Since India moves towards civilization, the birth of social discrimination begins as well as increased. A sign of high status enjoyed by a women folk during early Vedic period were observed in deteriorating conditioned in the late Vedic period. A great remarkable social system of Lineage tracing began in the male line and sons were the sole heirs to family property. As the economic and social status of sons began to rise, contradictorily the position of women saw a steep decline.

The status of women reached an all-time much lower during the age of the Dharmashastras. It is during this stage that the important classified codes of conduct prescribing behavior norms for women were evolved. This period saw the exclusion of women from different social norms like economic and religious sphere etc. These period was the beginning of different most talk social problem i.e. child marriage was actively encouraged and widow marriage was looked down upon something that is out of practice. The birth of girl child was considered as an ill omen and many parents went to the extent of killing the female infants. The practice of Sati became quite wide spread because of the ill treatment meted out to widows.

The system of Purdah which was prevalent among royal families, nobles and merchant prince classes prior to the advent of Muslims begins spreading to other classes. During the medieval period, practices of such as polygamy, sati, child marriage, ill treatment of widows already prevalent during the Dharmashastr. The priestly class misinterpreted the sacred texts and created an impression that all these evil practices had religious sanction.

The status of women saw many changes with the advent of the British who themselves called mighty, where sun never set in their country. Unfortunately they too have a great limitation in their vision which shows that when they start making law for each and every matter women were not even consulted as a part of social being. They were not given equal matrimonial rights to property, rights of widows to re-marriage, adoption and divorce rights etc. Therefore, the 19th century is often termed as the century of social reform in negative aspects.

With the coming of the independence and according to the Indian constitution, women are legal citizens of the country and have equal rights with men in all aspects (Indian Parliament). Whatever may be the history, religion, custom or traditional culture, if that is against the humanity that should be re-considering. We all are born once and no one knows how long we live. Is culture custom religion or tradition more important than human life? Do the human exist, is because of the existence of culture, custom and tradition? or vice versa. It is the time we all should think and analyze profoundly to have a better and prosperous society.

Therefore, HUMAN SOCIETY is very much different from other. The survival of a society depends on the ability of men and women to work together and live together respecting each other gender. Sensing the condition and plight of women in the current society, it is pertinent to consider, understand and actualize change needed to uplift the status of women into the natural dignity of human person at par with men as designed by the Creator. There is no such rule that human society should be patriarchal in nature. Human society shaped by patriarchal system of family is found to be defective and contradicts the purpose of creating human world.

Subsequently, woman has been conditioned under man-made prison or chains since ages past influenced by the patriarchal structural defects. Today women are awake, organize and educate themselves in the better position. Still to have a better understanding the position of women, it is noteworthy to consider the statement of Mahatma Gandhi "Woman is the companion of man gifted with equal mental capacities. She has the right to participate in the minutes details of the activities of man, and she has the same right to freedom and liberty as man".

We strongly believed that, it is not God's design or default that the patriarchal structural system have turned into a discriminative or oppressive social system. Perceives that it is man's creation to suit his selfish gratification against the creator's designed and purpose. Human tendency to justify himself for his wrong doing is not God's intention for men neither women tendency to think that they are subjected to men is God's designed nature but men's temperament.

Concerns, that men will resist this truth though undeniable and continue to rule women or refuse to accept the urging change moving in them to understand women because of the dominating thought or embedded pattern of thinking culture of men. In fact, it is men who should protect, and care for women because they are just physically little different in god's design so become weaker being however they are inseparable part of men. To bring about such a society, it is the role and obligation of every citizen in spite of different communities both of men and women, rich and poor alike to participate in changing the present social and cultural norm through mass renaissance.

Change of attitude and mindsets about gender inequality, dominant spirit and ruthlessness must be initiated in every heart, life and place. This change appeal is made open to the people for united support toward building a humane society; valuing life, principle and human obligation to do good to each other without bearing any sort of discrimination, bias or hatred, greed or gain or of communal base thinking, but in the true spirit of promoting humanity in every corner of life.

Today, we run/jog a society with culturally and traditionally a man dominated in nature. It is indeed very hard for women to really express their pains and rights to be heard and get comforted, secured or relieved. The dominant attitude of men still holds strong refusing to listen to and understand the position of women.

Today, women, girls or female human being are being greatly devalued, lowered their dignity below humanity. By culture or fashion of the world, women's value and dignity have been greatly damaged and their positions as equally human beings are so unnaturally lowered. They are made as an object for men's gratification.

It is imperfectly belief by many people that women can be sold, bought or bartered. They are used as beast of burden or slaves in the homes. Many a time, they are beaten, treated and even killed for no false of their own. Being weaker vessels, helpless and beautiful in form and structure, men folk's attempts to molest rape or tease much against their will intentionally or unintentionally.

The reality and unwanted truth is, women are not any other organism or lower human being. They are equally human being in all manner and nature. I strongly state that, women are complement part of men; man without woman is not a complete humanity. Therefore, human society should consist of both man and woman. Half or more of Human population is women. If man advocates inequality of status with women or put women lower being than men, on what authority is such sanctioned against the will and plan of the creator? What gain or good will man profit other than prideful dominant ruling which naturally leads to human downfall?

In order to maintain peace, justice and harmony in the society, both the sexes must equally sense the need for each other, respect each other and help each other in all affairs of life; social, political, spiritual and day to day personal and inter-personal activities. Man and woman must work together, shouldering the responsibility to care, preserve and protect life not only of man but also of animal and plants. The work of human welfare lies in both the sexes. Nature defines clearly the role, function and duty of man and woman, each to perform in relation to each other and for each other.

To be continued...