Reforms Movements for Women in British India

In the 19th century the emancipation of women became a matter of prime concern for the socio-religious reformers.

Individual Activists

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy campaigned for abolition of Sati practice ans was successful in getting a legislation enacted by company.
• Efforts of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar led to enactment of Widow Remarriage Act in 1856.
• John Elliot Drink Water Bethune {JED Bethune}, a British law member of Governor General’s Council established a school for girls {Hindu Kanya Vidyalaya} in 1849 in Calcutta. This was later known as Bethune school. One student of this school Kadambini Ganguly joined Calcutta Medical College as the first Indian girl student of a medical college and later she became first practicing lady doctor in India.
• In South India, Kandukuri Virasalingam Pantulu (1848-1919) published Viveka Vardhani and opened his first girls’ school in 1874 and made widow remarriage and female education the key points of his programme for social reform. He also launched anti-nautch movement (against hiring of dancing girls for celebrations).
• Mahadev Govind Ranade (1842-1901) and his wife Ramabai also contributed greatly to the cause of women. In 1869, Ranade founded the Widow Remarriage Association and encouraged widow remarriage and female education and opposed child marriage. He founded the National Social Conference, which became a pre-eminent institution for social reform. Pandita Ramabai (1858-1922) was also a pioneer in women’s education and a rebel champion of women’s rights. She founded the Sharda Sadan, a school for widows, in Bombay and at Mukti, near Pune. Her greatest legacy was her effort, the first in India, to educate widows.
• Dhondo Keshav Karve (1858-1962) founded the female school and widow homes in Pune. The curriculum in his schools was designed to make young widows employable and self-sufficient. Karve believed that “widows needed an education that would make them economically independent and enable them to think for themselves”. He also founded the first Indian women’s university in 1916.

Associations for Women

Bharat Mahila Parishad

It was a part of the National Social Conference to provide a forum for the discussion of social issues.

The Arya Mahila Samaj

It was founded by Ramabai, wife of Justice Ranade, to provide a support network for newly educated women.

Bharat Stree Mahamandal

It was founded by Sarladevi Chaudhurani at Allahabad in 1910. It was the first permanent association of Indian women to promote their common interests. The Mahamandal’s leaders regarded purdah as the main stumbling-block to female education and defined women’s issues such as female education, child marriage and women’s status in the family.

The Women’s Indian Association

It was founded by an Irish feminist and theosophist, Dorothy Jinarajadasa, in 1915, with its membership open to both Indians and Europeans. Annie Besant became its first President. The principal work of the WIA was educational and its branches were encouraged to set up adult classes for literacy, sewing and first aid.

The National Council of Women for India

It was an all-India organisation established in 1925, which was affiliated to the International Council of Women. Mehribai Tata (wife of Dorab Tata) played a key role in its advancement. But on account of its elitist nature, the Council failed to grow and become a vital national organisation.

The All-India Women’s Conference (AIWC)

It was the most important and the most truly “Indian” organisation, secular in outlook. The AIWC first met at Pune in January 1927, through the efforts of Margaret Cousins and other women belonging to the WIA. The Conference discussed vital issues on female education, child marriage and purdah. By 1928 the All-India Women’s Conference on Educational Reform decided that there could be little progress in educational matters unless harmful social customs were eradicated. Beginning with education, then adding customs which restricted female education, notably child marriage and purdah, the AIWC continued to enlarge its purview. By the 1940s the AIWC was establishing itself as the premier organisation representing women. In 1941 the AIWC established its quarterly journal, Roshni, and in 1946 set up a central office. The AIWC created a great deal of public opinion in favour of the Child Marriage Restraint Act or Sharda Act. When the Muslim leaders asked that the Sharda Act be amended to exclude Muslims the AIWC combated this move, claiming that it spoke for all women in India. In support of this stand, Muslim women members presented a memorandum endorsing the Sharda Act.

The foundation of the AIWC coincided with two developments. First, Muthulakshmi Reddy, the first woman legislator, was appointed to the Madras Legislative Council in 1927. Secondly, various women’s organisations in India launched a campaign for enfranchising women. Their efforts, however, had limited success, and women were given restricted-franchise in the Government of India Act, 1935.