Status of Women in Pre-Independence Uttarakhand

Status of Women in Pre-Independence Uttarakhand

Status of Women in Pre-Independence Uttarakhand : Uttarakhand, nestled in the Himalayas, has a rich cultural heritage and history. The status and condition of women in Uttarakhand has evolved over the centuries, with various social, economic and political factors shaping their lives and roles in society. This article analyses the status of women in Uttarakhand in the pre-independence period, focusing on key aspects such as education, economic roles, social customs, political participation and women’s movements.

Education and Literacy

Low Female Literacy

In the early 20th century, female literacy rates in Uttarakhand were very low, estimated to be around 2-3% according to the 1931 census. This was far below the male literacy rate of 15-20%. The primary reasons were deep-rooted social customs, early marriage, joint family structure and lack of schools.

Educating girls was not a priority as they were married off early. There was also a shortage of girls’ schools. By 1921, Uttarakhand had only 18 girls’ schools compared to 722 boys’ schools. Social customs like purdah system also restricted women’s access to education.

Efforts to Promote Education

By the late 19th century, Indian social reformers and British administrators were making efforts to promote female education. Schools for girls were slowly opened. Local rulers like the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal also established a few schools. Christian missionaries opened boarding schools for girls from privileged backgrounds in towns like Almora, Nainital and Ranikhet.

But efforts were limited in the remote hill regions. By 1921, the female literacy rate rose slightly to 4.22% but the gender gap in education persisted. It was a slow beginning, but the foundation for girls’ education was gradually laid.

Economic Roles and Livelihoods

The women of Uttarakhand played an important economic role, in addition to household work. Their major occupations included:

Agricultural and Allied Activities

Most women actively worked in their family farms – looking after crops, harvesting, threshing and transporting produce. They collected fodder and firewood from forests for household needs. Women did most of the dairy activities like milking cows and making ghee. They also spun wool and weaved cloth on looms in their homes.

Trade and Business

In towns and villages, women participated in trade and business activities in local haats and bazaars. They sold agricultural produce, milk products, woven cloth etc. Some even worked as labourers in public works.

Cottage Industries

Hill women were also engaged in various cottage industries like basket weaving, knitting, embroidery, candle making etc. which supplemented their income. But their economic contribution was considered secondary and they had little control over finances.

Social Status and Customs

The lives of women in Uttarakhand were shaped by various socio-cultural customs and religious beliefs:

Joint Family Structure

Most women lived in large joint families where the senior male member was the patriarch. Women faced restrictions on their mobility and behaviour – they covered their faces in front of male elders. Married women faced the additional burden of household tasks.

Early Marriage

The practice of getting girls married early, even before puberty was very common. It was believed that early marriage reduced the burden of poor families. The British colonial administration attempted to enforce child marriage restraint laws from the mid 19th century. But social attitudes were too rigid – even elderly widows were often forced to marry again.

Restrictions on Widow Remarriage

There was a strict taboo on widow remarriage even among the higher castes, though it was accepted in a few communities. Widows faced harsh restrictions like shaving their heads and removing colourful clothes and ornaments. Their touch was considered polluting. This compelled many widows to turn to prostitution to survive or commit suicide.

Custom of Polygamy

Polygamy was fairly common among ruling families and affluent sections who could afford several wives. Poor families also practiced polygamy but on a smaller scale. Wives were ranked as per their standing in the household. Senior wives held higher status and controlled household matters.

Practice of Sati

Though not very widespread, some isolated instances of sati were reported in Uttarakhand – like in Chamoli district in 1920. This highlights the plight of widows, especially child brides whose marriage had not even been consummated. They had few choices other than self-immolation on their dead husband’s pyre.

Property Rights

Women had limited property rights. They could inherit property from maternal side but had very limited rights in paternal property. Stridhan (gifts given at time of marriage) was considered their personal property. Parda system and lack of education restricted their public participation. Overall, women were relegated to secondary status – household work and raising children were regarded as their primary duties.

Political and Legal Status

No Political Representation

In the pre-independence period, women of Uttarakhand had almost no political representation. They did not have voting rights, nor could they stand for elections. All local advisory councils and representative bodies consisted entirely of men. Women were excluded from all political decision making.

Weak Legal Status

Legally too, women had very few rights. Social customs and religious laws governed their lives. Issues like marriage, divorce, property rights etc. were settled by caste or community councils. Women had no direct access to courts of law. This resulted in the perpetuation of traditions like dowry demands, child marriage and discrimination against widows and daughters.

Attempts by social reformers to get laws against child marriage and improve women’s property rights had limited impact before independence. The colonial administration was reluctant to push reforms that could upset local social and religious customs. Thus, efforts to change women’s legal status did not make much headway.

Women’s Movements and Contributions

Though women had nominal political rights, some of them participated actively in the Indian freedom movement, social reform efforts and agitations to improve their status in the early 20th century.

Participation in Nationalist Movements

In the early 1920s, several Women’s Patriotic Unions were formed in hill towns like Almora, Ranikhet, Pauri which had active Congress networks. Women attended political meetings, participated in protest marches and boycott campaigns. They also engaged in spinning and weaving khadi cloth as part of the swadeshi movement.

Social Reform Activities

Many women reformers emerged who questioned social practices like child marriage, dowry system, restrictions imposed on widows and lack of education for girls. They formed various social organisations, delivered public speeches to mobilise women and submitted petitions to the British administration demanding social reforms and greater rights for women.

Contribution to Culture and Literature

Women played an important role in preserving the cultural heritage of Uttarakhand through folk songs, dances, arts and handicrafts. Many contributed to the development of literature in languages like Kumaoni and Garhwali by writing poems, stories etc.

Thus, in the domain of social reforms, women’s rights and the national movement, the women of Uttarakhand made noteworthy contributions despite facing severe gender discrimination in a largely patriarchal society.

Conclusion to Status of Women in Pre-Independence Uttarakhand

Status of Women in Pre-Independence Uttarakhand : In pre-independence Uttarakhand, gender inequality was deeply entrenched in all spheres – social, economic and political. Women had inferior status and negligible rights. Education levels were very low, resulting in lack of awareness. Patriarchal social structure, early marriage and various taboos imposed further restrictions on women.

At the dawn of independence in 1947, the women’s movement had sown seeds of change. But the real gains for women were realized only in the post-independence period when the democratic Indian Constitution guaranteed them equal rights and opportunities. Education and legal reforms have enabled women in contemporary Uttarakhand to actively participate in socio-economic activities. But equality is still a distant goal and the struggle against gender discrimination continues.

FAQs on Status of Women in Pre-Independence Uttarakhand:

What was the literacy rate of women in pre-independence Uttarakhand? 

Female literacy rate was extremely low, around 2-3% in early 20th century as per the 1931 census. Lack of schools and early marriage restricted education.

What were the economic roles of women in that period? 

Most women actively worked on family farms, collected firewood & fodder. They were also engaged in dairy work, spinning wool, weaving cloth and trade in local markets.

Did women face restrictions due to social customs? 

Yes, customs like purdah system, joint family structure, early marriage and taboos on widow remarriage imposed severe restrictions on women.

Did women have any political or legal rights before 1947?
No, women had almost no political representation or voting rights. Legally too they had very few rights regarding marriage, divorce etc. which were governed by religious laws and community councils.

Were there any women’s movements in pre-independence Uttarakhand? 

Yes, in the 1920s several women’s organizations were formed which questioned social practices like dowry, Sati etc. Women also participated actively in the national movement and freedom struggle.