Women's Struggle for the Vote: 1917-1937

Abstract

This article explores the demand of the Indian women's movement in the period 1917–1937 for political representation for women. This campaign took place within the framework of the constitutional reforms of 1919 and 1935. The Women's Indian Association founded by Margaret Cousins and her colleagues in 1917 demanded women's franchise and eligibility to the legislature on the same basis as men. The WIA launched a vigorous campaign and was supported by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms left the question of women's suffrage to be decided by the provincial legislatures. Madras was the first province to grant votes to women and between 1921 and 1930 one by one the provinces extended the franchise to women and allowed them to stand as legisalative candidates. In the years 1928–1937, there were debates on the terms under which women's franchise should be expanded. The British Government supported reservation of seats for women, separate electorates and continued but expanded franchise qualifications. Most of the leaders of the women's movement opposed separate electorates and reservation of seats for women and demanded adult franchise. The demand of the women's movement for equal political rights and women's active participation in the freedom struggle led the Indian National Congress at its Karachi session in 1931 to pledge gender equality before the law and universal adult franchise. This pledge was honoured in the Constitution of free India. The article also examines the 33 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and in municipal corporations and how far it has empowewred women.