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19th Century to 1947
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The social reform movements of the 19th century called for widow re-marriage, a ban on sati and child marriage, and the promotion of women’s education. This may be taken as the first wave of the movement.
- The active participation of women in the freedom movement and the emergence of several national-level women’s organizations, such as the All India Women’s Conference, National Federation of Indian Women, and Women’s India Association, may be seen as the next wave of the movement.
- They raised the issues of women’s education, the right to franchise, Purdah, and individual rights.
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1947 to the 1960s
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The next wave of the movement began after 1947. Organizations such as the All India Women’s Conference focused on social welfare. During this period, most of the women’s organizations worked in the field of social service and welfare.
- The period immediately after independence witnessed two leftist movements – Tebhaga Movement in Bengal and Telangana Movement in Andhra Pradesh. The Telangana Movement threw up radical and militant women’s leadership. They organized Andhra Mahila Sabha, Andhra Yuvati Mandal, and Mahila Sangam.
- The 1960s witnessed several economic and political crises. The Naxalite Movement emerged with full force, especially in Bihar and Bengal. Many women provided strategic support to the Naxalite revolutionaries.
- The participation of women in this movement provided them with an opportunity to understand the political process in the country and the politics of gender inequality and suppression of women’s rights.
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1970s to the 1990s
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The women’s movement took a new shape after 1970. Movements now focused on all the major socio-economic, political, and environmental issues. Women’s involvement in the Chipko movement, focusing on preserving forests and related environmental issues, shows their increasing understanding of core issues.
- Between 1970 and 1990, women fought against liquor and liquor lobbies in Kumaon and Garhwal, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, etc.
- ‘Emergency’ was imposed in the country in 1975. Several civil liberties and democratic rights groups were organized. Women also played an important role in these people’s movements.
- On the whole, the period between 1970 and 2000 saw the emergence of many autonomous women’s organizations from different ideological backgrounds. Forum Against Oppression of Women in Mumbai, Saheli in Delhi, and Asmita in Hyderabad are some examples.
- A notable trend is that women’s organizations started to link strongly with political parties. They, in a way, acted as a women’s wing to these parties. All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) – is related to CPI(M), and Mahila Congress is an affiliate of the Congress Party.
- The 1980s were largely dominated by the anti-dowry movement throughout the country. It also included such issues as dowry-related atrocities, domestic violence, commercialization and commodification of women, and lack of property rights. Public debate on sexual harassment and rape was also the result of this movement against dowry.
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1990s to the Present times
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In the present scenario, empowerment – social, economic, and political – is the dominant theme in the women’s rights movement supported by hundreds of women’s organizations.
- The women’s movement in India is now an important part of the worldwide movement of women for justice, equality, and empowerment.
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