Women Empowerment And Hindu Literature

Abstract

Women Empowerment is a social issue more than a legal issue. Change in the existing mind set of society is the need of the hour. Need of women empowerment is needed due to the demand for natural justice and as a tool for nation building. In a democratic country like ours the protection of human rights and natural justice form an integral part of the constitution. The issue of women empowerment is very complex and multidimensional. Empowering women means to create an environment where women can freely exercise their rights both within and outside home and equal partners along with men. Literature plays an important role in the development of society. Hindu literature has been occupying the prominent position for the last many centuries. Society always tries to mould itself according to the literature which is taught to the society. Now everywhere is the demand of women empowerment. Now question arises why there is the demand of women empowerment in India. Why Lord Buddha, Mahatama Jyoti Rao Phule, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and saints like Sant Kabir Ji, Sant Ravidas Ji, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and other great men fought for the respectful survival of women and for women empowerment in India. Even today the position of women in India is Pitiable. Hindu literature occupies the predominant position in India. Majority of Indians follow Hindu literature and act accordingly whatever has been given in Hindu literature. So by taking examples from Hindu literature we can analyze degree of women empowerment. Principles of Hindu literature are strictly followed in India. So after analyzing the position of women in Hindu literature we can analyzing the possibility of women empowerment. Vedas, Smritis given by many Rishis as Manusmriti given by Manu, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Upanishads, Geeta etc. are important part of Hindu literature. Now we can analyze the possibility of women empowerment in India. Literature always has influenced the social life. It is the duty of women to read the literature which is helpful in their empowerment. Only empowered women can give birth to empowered women. Slave lady gives birth to slave child. Lord Buddha said” Progress of nation can be analyzed by the degree of progress of women”. Therefore Dr. Ambedkar gave equal rights to women in constitution.