GANDHI’S IDEOLOGY ON THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Abstract

“Woman, I hold, is the personification of self sacrifice, but unfortunately today she does not realize what tremendous advantage she has over man” is the condition of women observed by Gandhi. According to Gandhi, both men and women are of equal rank, but they are not identical. They are a peerless pair, being supplementary to one another, each helping the other so that without the one the existence of the other cannot be conceived. Throughout the history of India, women in India have been placed at disadvantageous position vis-à-vis Indian men. Despite changes in political governance and acceptance of democracy as the basis of Indian polity, position of women in India has been at a constant decline in the status and living conditions. Women have been subjected to various societal gender biases in terms of stereotyped notions and prejudices about their capacity, aspiration and so on.