Isher Singh Jasrotia
We are proud of the largest democracy in the world and the philosophy of our Constitution is that despite the different religions, castes, culture, traditions, regional disparities, India has demonstrated in the world over that India is developing its economy at a very rapid rate in the present context.
It is pertinent to mention here that on the one hand India is emerging as developing country and is on the path of developed country/Super Power, on the other hand, it is a matter of great concern that there are many atrocities being meted out to the women as has happened on 16th of December 2012 regarding the gang rape with 23 years girl and thereafter.
The most controversial issues and challenging considerations before the society are education, Status of women, growing terrorist activities and allied coinciding problems have been discussed and debated so many times.
The educated citizens and even bureaucrats of this biggest democracy to a greater extent, are indifferent and ignorant to the basic features of our constitution – social justice, liberty, equality, fraternity which are envisaged in our constitution. The essence of these features is that these are the fundamental features & foundation of our modern civilization and contemplation of these features are the vision of our society, are of paramount importance for consistent growth in all the sectors in the present context.
Social Justice – as a fundamental might in the comprehensive form in fact, is an important factor to determine and remove social imbalance by law harmonizing the interest of different groups/sections of society- a way to built up a “Welfare State”.
The subject matter under discussion in the present day scenario is Status & Empowerment of Women. The reality of the philosophy is that women are mothers, sisters, daughters and their counterpart in-laws – all are human being, forming part of our society. From the days our society came into existence, the women are not treated equally due to numerous constraints, cultural traditions, ethos, and inhuman treatment and vice versa. In the recent years, the women have played tremendous role in making the society as civilized society, may it be education, industry, banking, Government/private undertaking or the else.
Subsequently, due to these numerous constraints and compulsions, the women have been victim to various atrocities like physical and mental torture, economic and sexual harassment, child marriage, dowry death, infanticide and other multifarious crimes and victimization commensuration with innumerable other impediments which have been the root cause of impairment of our society & have endangered and damaged the society to a larger extent in the present context.
In the olden days when there was little awareness of the society, the liberty of the women was confined to the four-wall of the house and they were even sacrificed when the tradition of Sati was in prevalent. But with the change of time, our social reformers like Keshab Chandra Sen, Dhondo Keshav Karve, Ramakrishna Paramahan, Saralabala Devi Chowdhari, Sir, Syed Ahmed Khan, Swami Veveknanda, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi and similar other reformers had the vision of plight of women, enlightened and awakened our society. Similarly, since our constitution was formed and the education was considered as the main factor for making change in the society, women got the opportunities to excel their potentials in every field.
As earlier mentioned, now women are taking active part in every field- may it be political, defense, security forces, education, industry or any other field. To cite few examples, our late Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the First Woman Prime Minister of India – a courageous, brave, bold lady, who had passion for peace, Krishna Mehta – our Ist Woman M.P from Jammu & Kashmir State ( Now U.T) who had the vision of social transformation, Kiran Desai, a noted writer and youngest woman awarded Britain Highest literary award, Mrs Pratibha Partil, the Ist Woman President, Kiran Bedi and similar others women who had/have been chief Ministers, MPs.
If the aims and objectives of social justice are to be achieved through liberty, equality and fraternity, the basic essential reflected in the preamble of our constitution, changes are utmost in our society. To establish a socialistic society (Welfare society) and civilized society, the enjoyment of liberty, respect and dignity to all including women – ideal of living a peaceful life through freedom of thoughts, expression, fellow feeling, brother hood which will lead towards a modern civilization and socio-economic development is need of the hour. It is firm conviction and admitted fact that the education, which is an important and fundamental factor to a greater extent, can save our society from extinction, degradation and deterioration.
Under Article 15, Prohibition of determination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, it has been held that Section 497 of IPC, which say that it is an offence of adultery though the man is punishable for adultery, the woman is not punishable as an abettor, is not unconstitutional, because such immunity is necessary for the protection of woman in view of their existing position in Indian society. Clause (3) of article 15, which permits special provisions for women and children, has been widely resorted to and the courts have upheld the validity of special measures in legislation or executive orders favouring women. In the context of sustained and substantial technological development, political awakening and consistency in the global environment, taking into consideration the plight of women, it is imperative that our society is brought up to the fashion of modern civilization by educating new generation & enforcing stringent law.
There are long pending issues regarding plight of of women which have been debated in many sessions in Parliament for the uplift of women.
Unless concrete and vigorous legislations are not formulated and enforced, these trends of women victimization, crimes and harassments will continue to exist.
Taking the above in view, it is essential that positive steps are required to be taken through educating the society and making the masses aware of the status and empowerment of women. Some of the result oriented measures which can be taken, are by educating the masses through various cultural, social-welfare programs in the educational institutions and colleges making the public and youngsters aware of the problems of the women, concrete, enforcement of vigorous and stringent legislation.
(The author is Chairman of Modern Educational Society, 2006)
