Q4. Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase.

Model Answer:

Introduction

The role of women in India’s freedom struggle, particularly during the Gandhian phase, was transformative. Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership opened new avenues for women’s participation, breaking traditional gender norms. Women emerged not just as supporters but as frontline activists, making significant contributions to the nationalist movement.

Body

Involvement in Non-Cooperation Movement:

• Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) encouraged women to join protests, boycott foreign goods, and engage in picketing liquor and foreign cloth shops.
• Women like Kasturba Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, and Begum Hazrat Mahal became iconic figures in these campaigns, showing moral courage.

Participation in Civil Disobedience Movement:

• The Salt March (1930) saw widespread female participation. Thousands of women, inspired by Gandhi, took to the streets to make salt, facing arrests and police brutality.
• Women like Kamala Nehru, Sucheta Kripalani, and Muthulakshmi Reddi actively led demonstrations, contributing to the growing strength of the movement.

Role in Quit India Movement:

• During the Quit India Movement (1942), women played a vital role in underground resistance. Leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali and Usha Mehta organised protests, distributed secret messages, and operated underground radio stations to continue the nationalist struggle.

Empowerment and Social Reforms:

• Gandhi encouraged women to embrace non-violence and self-reliance, giving them a platform to demand both political freedom and social reform, including rights for education and emancipation from oppressive customs.

Conclusion

‍Women’s participation during the Gandhian phase of the freedom struggle was pivotal. They moved from the periphery to the centre of the national movement, contributing both as leaders and foot soldiers, thereby reshaping India’s political and social landscape.

‍

Instant Mains Evaluation with SuperKalam