Mahatma Gandhi Forum: March 2014

Role of Mahatma Gandhi in Women's Political Participation

By Dr. Shubhangi Rathi

Mahatma Gandhi has played an important role in the participation of women in political activities in India. Gandhi becomes uncompromising in the matter of women's rights. According to him woman is companion of man and gifted with equal rights of freedom and liberty. Woman is the better half of humanity, not the weaker sex. Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi was the first man to encourage participation of women in politics. The Constitution of India guarantees equal rights to men and women as voters and citizens. Presently there are very few women Parliamentarians in India. It shows that Gandhi's ideas about women and their role in political life was a departure from those of the 20th century reformers. In the 21st century, it is clear that quotas for women in politics have not essentially ensured higher equality. For the success of democracy, active participation of women is essential. In this paper my focus is on participation of women in politics in India and Mahatma Gandhi's role in motivating large numbers of women into mainstream politics. As per modern theory, both men and women are integral parts of social, economic and political set up of a state. Keeping this background in mind, this paper seeks to focus on the share of women in the electoral process of India.

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Not a woman you could cross

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Mridula Sarabhai did more than any party for communal harmony and for human rights years before the latter phrase gained currency

It is Women’s Day and memories of certain amazing women swim into one’s thoughts.

To certain people a calling comes most naturally. Mridula Sarabhai, daughter of Mahatma Gandhi’s early collaborators Ambalal Sarabhai and sister of the nuclear scientist Vikram Sarabhai, was meant for the rough life. Born in 1911, she died at age 63 in 1974. She looked the rough role all right. One of the proudest women ever made by God, the most sneeringly contemptuous of cowardice and of ‘safe playing’, Mridula had more of a brave man in her than a woman. Ever in her Pathan salwar-kameez outfit with a man’s collar, she looked like she could pound an adversary on his nose without a moment’s thought. Or shower imprecations on him. And of adversaries she had no dearth.

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