Know How Women Education Is Changing The Game For Good In India

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Women’s education in India, once viewed as mere objects of ornamentation to the household, a machine to rear children and remain hidden behind the veil, is now complementing the men and their roles in the family and society in all walks of life. Starting from seeking employment to sharing the burden of household expenses to supporting the entire family single-handedly without depending on the men in the house for any kind of help, women are doing it all. This incredible transformation did not happen in a day. It took years of relentless struggle, episodes of failure, instigated by the scorns of the patriarchy, and monumental perseverance to bring about this transformation, and the biggest catalyst for this change is education. As the entire nation got consumed by the surge of Renaissance ideologies, the voices of protest against social injustice were amplified by the demand for women education in India, in both rural and urban India. In the endeavor to uplift the positions of women in India, it was the promotion of their education that initiated their journey to unhindered progress, emancipation, and the realisation of the dream of a progressive India.

For years, women’s lives in India were dominated by societal expectations and the obnoxious chauvinistic ideals of the males in their lives. In some cases, they were not even allowed to live if the demand for an heir was unmet, and even if they were blessed enough to see the light, they were married to men older than their fathers. Soon enough, as the flames of knowledge started the purgation of these evils from society, the progressive households started sending their daughters to school and getting them educated. However, this miracle took years to settle, as families realized the need to stop the early marriage of the girls and relinquish the restrictions on their education. It was when the men realized that the no-schooling norm that was established to reinforce the power of patriarchy was stifling the growth and progress of women, that society woke from its slumber and started accepting women in any other role than that of a daughter, sister, mother, or wife. Within a few years, an enormous transformation took place in India as women from all walks of life started pursuing different careers just as men to leave their mark either as entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors, or political leaders.

Emancipation is impossible without economic empowerment, which was also a lesson that pervaded through the towns and villages of India. That is why Indian women started exploring their potential and worth in business, politics, academics, and even setting up their own business ideas. It could have been only possible because of  women education in India, as they realized the need to channel their creativity, empathy, and wit beyond their own households, into the supposedly male-dominated arena of business. It is impossible to discuss women’s empowerment and channeling of education in entrepreneurship without mentioning the names of some highly successful women like Falguni Nayar, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Vineeta Singh, Ritu Kumar, and many more. However, these high-spirited ladies could work on their visionary thinking and explore their creative ideas due to the relentless struggles and efforts of some of the greatest women scholars of India who propounded the importance of women’s education and left their inspiring footsteps behind to follow. Anandi Gopal Joshi, Savitribai Phule, and Sarojini Naidu were some of the greatest Indian scholars of modern India who, against all odds, made history by fighting all the adversities during their time to pursue their academic dreams and the career of their choices. It is at their behest that the promotion of women education in India could be possible.

Now in this 21st century, India has proudly produced many successful women scholars and entrepreneurs who have continued to win hearts and business markets not only in India but across the world with their skills, knowledge, and qualities. This progress of women has changed the game for India, especially by expanding the potential of a diverse workforce with both male and female employees. Ever since the discrimination over rights to education was abolished, Indian-educated women have been able to contribute majorly towards the improvement of the country’s economy and ensure a better life for their family members. Also, with education, awareness about health has been an added blessing. For example, countless women had to give up their lives due to incurable infections and diseases contracted while giving birth. With the spread of education among women, mothers are now very well aware of both maternal and infant mortality and the need to get timely vaccinations and treatments to prevent any critical illness.

Last but not least, the contributions of women education in India are incomplete without mentioning the remarkable social changes that were brought about by the educated women. All the dreams and aspirations nurtured by the women, along with the fear of being ostracised by the society cocooning their desires, started to manifest themselves in the form of protests and demands to be treated equally because of education. As more women got themselves educated, the stronger their fervor became to actualize their own dreams and explore the colorful possibilities of the world. In order to give wings to these dreams, the Indian government took up many initiatives in partnership with NGOs to increase financial support and encourage digital and general literacy among women in both rural and urban sectors.

The entire journey of the Indian woman from being a docile member of a male-dominated household to an educated citizen commanding respect, dignity, and fair treatment is unbelievable, especially with the unhindered progress it is currently experiencing. However, in spite of all the financial aid and government initiatives, there are still some sections of rural India where women’s education is still considered to be negligible. These women from the rural sections of India need to be metamorphosed into independent ladies who ignite the flame of knowledge not only in their lives but also for the posterity to come.