Advantages of women in Indian politics.

By K P PASWAN.

Women in Indian politics always played active and impressive roles. Indian political system started with the formation of Congress Party in the last decade of 19^th century. At that time India was under colonial rule. There was lack of education among women. Except large cities like Kolkata and Mumbai there was no facility of education for women. Foreign missionaries played important role in spreading education among women.

When movement for an independent India started by Mahatma Gandhi and a few prominent leaders like Tilak and Gokhale we do not find mention of any leading women as political leader and freedom fighter.

ADVANTAGE. Having women politicians in power is good for society. It means empowerment of women, encouraging women to have education. Atrocities against women is supposed to come down, but this is not happening. Despite of these shortcomings women in many countries are the first choice for heading the government. Most of women politicians are free from serious corrupt practices. In course of time cruelity against may come down.

Post independent India witnessed emergence of women politicians like Vijayalakshmi Pundit Padmaja Naidu, her daughter Sarojini Naidu Sucheta Kripalani , There were few elected members of parliament and except Rajkumari Amrit Kaur no other women politicians gained prominence in public life.  VijayluxmiPundit and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur heralded new era for women in politics. Amrit Kaur founded modern All India Institute of medical science in New Delhi. As health minister she was much respected woman was her social works impressed the first prime minister of India.

Vijayalakshmi Pundit was the younger sister of Jawaharlal Nehru and was highly educated. She played important role in independent India movement, after independence she represented India in the United Nations Generally and elected president of the UN general assembly. As politician she devoted her time in empowering women by spreading education. Her tenure as governor of a state is remembered as glorious period. She is known as an excellent orator of English. After death of her brother Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, she dissociated herself from active politics, retired to Dehradun and died it here.

 Indira Gandhi was the only daughter of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. She was an astute politician and a practical statesman of contemporary India. Without her, description of politics in post Independent India cannot be carried out. She was chosen to head the government in 1966 after demise of LalBahadur Shastri There was a group of disgruntled politicians known as Syndicate which was bent upon creating political and social problems Morarji Desai was her strong rival but against all odds she headed the politics of India during difficult period. Pakistan was threatening India while separatists in Punjab was indulged in violence to achieve their end.

India has only one woman political figure who needs impartial assessment, For a long period Indira Gandhi guided India on right directions. Disgruntled and power-hungry politicians of that time had one political aim” Remove Indira Gandhi from power”

EVALUATION of Indira Gandhi as a women politician is a difficult task. She is being criticized for imposing emergency in 1975 for personal gain, but hard truth is that she loved for India and sacrificed her life for India while her predecessor and successors knowingly or unknowingly indulged in political activities which proved detrimental to national security of India

 Indira Gandhi was the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first PM of India he groomed Indira Gandhi for future role in Indian politics but he never anticipated, Indira as the future PM of India. Pt Nehru died in 1964 and for a brief period LalBahadur Shstri headed the parliamentary democracy, India clashed with Pakistan in which Pakistan was humiliated but the popular PM Shastri died in Tashkent, Once again power struggle followed, Morarji Desai tried his luck but Indira Gandhi was elected as PM of India,

The country followed a mixed system of economy which was not succeeding and India needed new vibrant economic policy. The country was still following five years plans for development but it was also not succeeding. Unless economy is opened there was little hope of an emerging economy. Constant political agitation against her rule was gaining momentum but the opposition had no  idea how to improve economy. Against all these odds, Indira Gandhi gave the slogan “Remove Poverty and introduced 20 point formula. She laid stress on agriculture, however these measures were difficult to implement as there was no coperations from oppositions and the PM herself never approached for dialogue

 

 Some of the Public Sectors established during the period of Jawaharlal Nehru were becoming sick and in absence of foreign collaborations it was impossible to found new industries, Rules of import were difficult and in the name of exports only minerals, tea and garments were noticed  The world was gradually moving to  computerized technology, colors TVs were luxurious item in India. There was no foreign brands of motor vehicles and importation of vehicle attracted higher amount of import duty. Credit goes to Indira Gandhi for maintaining a fragile political stability. There was improvement in agriculture products. Even on limited scale new system of harvest had good result. Punjab led the way in agriculture. 

The nation faced bloody war with Pakistan which was helped by US, Uk. China and almost all the western countries. India was helped only by Russia. 1970 Indo Pakistan war witnessed the emergence of Bangladesh as a new sovereign nation . In the next general election the High court declared her election as null and void. It was a very precarious position, she has few friends left to support, most of them defected and joined the opposition, there was demand for a separate nation for Sikhs and there was violent agitations and several leading personalities were brutally murdered. Indira Gandhi ordered the army to flush out the supporters of Khalistan from a leading temple of Punjab. Her actions were opposed by opposition for a while she was out of power but bounced back with thumping majority in parliament.

 By than her life line started breaking and she was assassinated at her residence. Indira Gandhi’s imposition of emergency needs impartial evolution. Emergency was necessary for averting social and political anarchy. Violations of fundamental had no meaning when common people were craving for foods and medicines and they were getting in time. After her departure India was different. She was assassinated in 1984 and by 1990 Indian economy was opened to the world. Indira will remembered for keeping the unity of the country intact.

After Indira Gandhi no woman politicians are able to impress general public. There were  women Chief Ministers like Mayawati, Ms Jailalita and presently a learned woman as CM of West Bengal, but their contributions cannot be appreciated. There was a woman presiden of India which is a ceremonial post.There are several women politicians who are elected to Parliament and they are known for their excellent speeche.

 

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