Women’s Education in India

Women education in India has improved through the ages, and women in India have come a long way since the Purdah system.

More on Women’s Education in India

	•	Women Education in Colonial India		•	Women Education in Ancient India		•	Women Education in Medieval India
	•	Women Education in Modern India		•	Early Women’s Education in English

  Women`s education in India is one of the foremost concerns of the Government of India as well as of the society at large. It is due to the fact that at the present time, the educated women play a very significant role in overall development and progress of the country. Women hold a prominent position in the Indian society and all over the world. However, since the prehistoric times women were denied opportunities and had to suffer for the hegemonic masculine ideology. This unjustifiable and unwarrantable oppression had resulted into a movement that fought to achieve the equal status of women all over the world. Women Education in India is the consequence of such progress and this led to the tremendous improvement of women`s condition through out the world. Nevertheless eradication of female illiteracy is considered as a major concern today.

In the present era, the Indian society has established a number of institutions for the educational development of women and girls. These educational institutions aim for immense help and are concerned with the development of women. In the modern society, women in India have come a long way. Indian women is at par with men in all kinds of tasks like reaching the moon, conquering Mount Everest, and participating in all fields. All this is possible just because of education and the profound impact it has had on women.

Women`s Education in Ancient India
In ancient India, women and girls received less education than men. This was due to the set social norms. Interestingly, in the Vedic period women had access to education, but gradually they had lost this right. Women education in ancient India prevailed during the early Vedic period. In addition to that Indian scriptures Rig Veda and Upanishads mention about several women sages and seers. Women enjoyed equivalent position and rights in the early Vedic era. However, after 500 B.C, the position of women started to decline. The Islamic invasion played a vital role in restricting freedom and rights of the women. A radical change attended and there was a terrific constraint for women education in India.

Women`s Education in Medieval India
Women education in medieval India further weakened and declined with the introduction of Purdah system . Different customs and conventions of diverse religions like Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity further deteriorated and depreciated the state of women in the country. A range of socio religious movements contributed to the development of women literacy in the country. Many leaders took several initiatives to make education available to the women of India. The ordered form of women education in India was incorporated in the early centuries of the Christian era.

Women`s Education in Colonial India
The position of the women education in India revived with the invasion of the British in the country and with the advent of Bhakti movement. The colonial period also introduced the institutional form of imparting learning. Women education in Colonial India witnessed an essential expansion. Various movements were launched to make women of the country literate. Further more, this progress journeyed through the years and influenced the modern Indian education system.

Women`s Education in Modern India
Women Education in Modern India can be traced back to the years after the independence of India. In the present times, the government of India takes measures to provide education to all women of the country. Women literacy rate seemingly rose in the modern days. Women education in India became a compulsory concern and female literacy has gone higher that male literacy. And this has actually helped women to achieve top positions at work place and also at society.

Currently, the Constitution of India guarantees free primary school education for both boys and girls up to age 14. Education in India plays a vital role in the overall development of the country. This proves that educated women promote education in their family. Further, learned women can also help in the lessening of child death rate and expansion of population. In the modern era, women education is the replica of a Vedic model for instructive inspiration.

Moreover, the Government of India has recently launched the Saakshar Bharat Mission for Female Literacy, which aims to reduce female illiteracy and spread education and awareness even in the most remote and rural parts of the nation.