Topic– Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
1) Discuss how gender inequality came to be recognised as inequality in the Indian context, and the kinds of responses that this recognition produced.(250 words)
Why this question
Gender inequality is an important issue and it is important to know how this issue came to be recognized in Indian society and what responses it generated from the society.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the issue of gender inequality in India and when and how it came to be recognized as inequality at the level of masses.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to write in detail about the existence of gender inequality in India and write about when and how it came to be publicly recognized as an inequality. It also wants us to write in detail about the kind of response it generated then.
Directive word
Discuss- This s an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. We also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Write a few lines about the gender inequality historically prevalent in Indian subcontinent- like Sati system, Purdah system, illiteracy, lack of access to power and several religious aspects etc.
Body-
- Mention that the women’s question arose in modern India as part of the nineteenth century middle class social reform movements and discuss the salient characteristics of these movements- e.g dominated by middle-class, western educated indians; inspired by democratic and humanistic ideals of the west as well as pride in indigenous traditions and culture; etc. Mention the name of the pioneers who fought for women equality and briefly discuss their contributions. E.g Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Jyotiba Phule; M.G. Ranade etc.
- Discuss the kind of responses it generated. E.g various socio-religious reform movements; intellectual debate like M.G. Ranade’s writings entitled the The Texts of the Hindu Law on the Lawfulness of the Remarriage of Widows and Vedic Authorities for Widow Marriage etc. mention the role of women like Tarabai Shinde, Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain etc.
Conclusion- sum up your discussion in a few lines and form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the above issue.
