History of women education in India

 History of women education in India

Introduction

Education is a ladder of development. It dispels darkness and brings s light. It is a base of all Human Resource Development, a stepping stone for the onward march of culture, the bedrock of all human progress. An ancient proverb lays down: If you are planning for one year, plant trees; If you are planning for five years, plant rice: If you are planning for the future, educate your children.

“Education of one boy is education of one person by education of a girl the education of the whole family”. --- Jawaharlal Nehru

This statement amply and to a great extent explains the importance of women education. In India, the condition of women education has always remained deplorable. Women’ education was badly neglected in the past. While her position in Vedic times or even the Upanishadic Era was good, there is no doubt that period after 1000A.D. was a dark age for her. Whatever the historic reasons, her social position began to deteriorate during the period and had considerable repercussions on her education.

During the British period in the beginning nothing was done to promote the Women’s education. It was only with the establishment of municipalities and local fund committees in 1870 that it was possible to promote girls’ education through local public funds. Schools were opened and even SNDT University, the only women’s university came into existence in 1915 through the efforts of Maharishi Karve to provide higher education suitable for women.

The real impetus to women’s education came with the political awakening of the country and the great push Mahatma Gandhi gave to women’s movement.

Indian Women Education during Vedic Period:

During Vedic period the women were considered as complementary of man. She has the equal status as man. They had full rights for their education but, maximum education was done at their homes. This was the earlier condition of education of women in Vedic Period. Afterwards the women education was neglected. There was no arrangement for their education in Gurukul. 

Indian Women Education during Budhistic Period:

In the beginning of Buddhist Period the women education was neglected. When Mahatma Buddha allowed the ladies monk in Vihara then the women education flourished. They lived separately. The Acharya lectured them in the presence of special monk or monks. During Buddhist Period the women education was available to the high caste women. The general and low caste women have zero education.

Indian Women Education during Muslim Period:

During Muslim Period the women education did not flourish because of Pardah System .The daughters of Islam could not rise to the standard of perfection their preceptors had attained. The low age girls could go to Maktab and could have education but for higher education, the guardians had to do arrangement at their homes for their education that is for the instruction of girls, there were separate schools but usually they received their education at home.