We have heard various terms describe Gandhi - but never hear someone say he is a feminist. Aparna Gard writes about Gandhi's role in the feminist movement in India and the relevance of his ideas to today's Indian society.

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“Of all the evils for which man has made himself responsible, none is so degrading, so shocking or so brutal as his abuse of the better half of humanity to me, the female sex, not the weaker sex. It is the nobler of the two, for it is even today the embodiment of sacrifice, silent suffering, humility, faith and knowledge.” 

The words of a man who was one of the most ardent feminists – Mahatma Gandhi. The man who had bought Indian women from the purdah to the streets fighting for freedom. It was no mean achievement in a society where female infanticide is still rampant. He scrutinized women’s issues holding nothing sacrosanct. Commonly prevalent customs came under fire from Gandhiji. The moral courage and sensitivity of his views are like a fresh breath of air carrying away doubts liberating dignity. His role as founding father of Indian feminist movements is usually not in limelight. In the fast changing landscape of Indian society where women are reaching for new horizons on one hand and face increased aggressiveness from a consumerist relentless society on the other hand; Gandhiji’s views hold increased relevance and ask for re-examining the issues he took up. In this article I have tried to bring together his views on women’s issues he has spoken about, on various occasions. 
 
 

On women’s acceptance of their subjugation  

(Young India, 10.4.1930)

"I tried to show them they were not slaves either of their husbands or parents, not only in the political field but in the domestic as well. But the trouble was that some could not resist their husbands. The remedy is in the hands of women themselves. The struggle is difficult for them, and I do not blame them. I blame the men. Men have legislated against them. Man has regarded woman as his tool. She has learnt to be his tool and in the end found it easy and pleasurable to be such, because when one drags another in his fall the descent is easy."

"My work will be finished if I succeed in carrying conviction to the human family, they every man or woman, however weak in body, is the guardian of his or her self-respect and liberty, and that his defence prevails, though the world be against the individual resister."  

Gandhiji felt that while men conspired to label women as weak and soft; women themselves accepted the protection that the role offered. This protection, which came at the cost of independence lead to untold misery for women for ages. Even today in the 21^st century female foeticide is rampant in Indian cities. What makes these to be mothers murder their own girl child silently? Most obvious reason is these women are not financially independent and the custom of dowry. In the relentless consumerist world where there is no fear of either law or God, male child is the sought after commodity, the girl child gets slaughtered. Female empowerment and education means that such crimes do not occur in states like Kerala. The politicians, the media are mostly silent on the subject while the police and courts do not have resources to tackle these crimes. While it may take years for police and courts to have enough resources to tackle these crimes, Gandhiji’s message of Satyagraha of protest can still be used to empower women. Mass media can perhaps be most effective tool to encourage women to protest, to seek support, to seek solidarity.    

On women mimicking men

“I believe in the proper education of woman. But I do believe that woman will not make her contribution to the world by mimicking or running a race with men. She can run the race, but she will not rise to the great heights she is capable of by mimicking man. She has to be the complement of man .⁸⁰ “

In contrast to early western feminist movement, which equated equality and similarity, he recognized the natural differences between men and women.  The fallout of feminist movement has been a society where women who do not go out to work have been reduced from the status of Grihalakshmi to the status of mere housewives who have no financial or decision making authority. It is important to realize women’s contribution to society by staying at home to bring up children who are cared for and are emotionally and physically strong. The leading child psychologists in west now support early years care of children by people who have long-term stake in the children. Mostly this role falls on the mother. While it is important that women have same career opportunities as men, their role in child care needs more respect acknowledgement and support from the society 
 
 

On the basis for a successful marriage  

  “I accept generally the conditions for an ideal marriage enumerated by my correspondent. But I would change their order of importance and put ‘love’ last in the list. By giving it the first place, the other conditions are liable to be overshadowed by it altogether and rendered more or less nugatory. Therefore, spiritual development ought to be given the first place in the choice for marriage. Service should come next, family considerations and the interest of the social order should have the third place, and mutual attraction or ‘love’ the fourth and the last place. This means that ‘love’ alone, where the other three conditions are not fulfilled, should not be held as a valid reason for marriage. At the same time, marriage where there is no love should equally be ruled out even though all the other conditions are fully complied with. I should score out the condition of eugenic fitness, because the begetting of offspring being the central purpose of marriage, eugenic fitness cannot be treated as a ‘condition’; it is the sine qua non of marriage. “ 

In a modern society, which has liberated individualism reasons, reasons for marriage are being questioned. The western model of raising children by single parents requires a huge resource support from the government, even where this support exists marriage is acknowledged to be the best model where raising children is concerned. For resource strapped section of Indian society single parenthood may not become a norm soon, the other reasons for marriage perhaps need more introspection.    

On practice of Dowry

“A strong public opinion should be created in condemnation of the degrading practice of dowry and young men who soil their fingers with such ill-gotten gold should be ex-communicated from society. Parents of girls should cease to be dazzled by English degrees and should not hesitate to travel outside their little castes and provinces to secure true gallant young men for their daughters.^” 

Gandhiji preferred girls to remain unmarried all their lives than to be humiliated and dishonoured by marrying men who demanded dowry. He found dowry marriages ‘heartless.’ Nearly 60 years after independence dowry deaths and female foeticide infanticide refuse to die in our country. The problem has reached such epidemic proportions that in 2001 census the ratio of females to every 1000 males in Haryana was 861. The big question is where are the missing females, I am sure we can all guess. Has not any of us come across dowry abuse in our families what has been our response, can we all rise to the situation and at least pledge that we will not go to a wedding where dowry is being given. 

On Contraceptives

“If contraceptives are resorted to, frightful results will follow. Men and woman will be living for sex alone. They will become soft-brained, unhinged, in fact, mental and moral wrecks”. 

Mrs. Nair asked if contraceptives were not permitted, how the population problem could be solved; to which Gandhiji replied, “nature would solve the problem. If people multiplied like rabbits, they will die like rabbits” 

Gandhiji was for natural methods of birth control. He felt that subverting nature would result in increased debauchery in society - a fact that has come true in the west. In the Indian context he also believed that before introducing contraceptives, it was important that Indian women were freed from mental slavery, that they learnt the sacredness of their body, the art of learning to say no even to their husbands. Otherwise he felt they would become a target of sexual desires. With consumerist individualism knocking at the door of our metropolises Gandhiji’s ideal of spiritualism in every sphere of life will need to prove it credentials, it’s power.   

On crimes against women 

“When a woman is assaulted she may not stoop to think in terms of himsa or ahimsa. Her primary duty is self-protection. ‘ 

“I therefore recommend women…to try to cultivate this courage. They will become wholly fearless if they can and cease to tremble as they do today at the thought of assaults…. Parents and husbands should instruct women in the art of becoming fearless. It can best be learnt from a living faith in God. Though He is invisible, He is one’s unfailing protector. He who has this faith is the most fearless of all…” 
 

On social double standards concerning sexual freedom. 

“And why is there all this morbid anxiety about female purity? Have women any say in the matter of male purity? We hear nothing of women’s anxiety about men’s chastity. Why should men arrogate to themselves the right to regulate female purity? It cannot be superimposed from without. It is a matter of evolution from within and therefore of individual self-effort.” 

Gandhiji wanted women to rise from their shackles and take decisions on their own physical protection as well as sexual morality. He advocated their spiritual development and physical freedom. While the developing nation seems to have categorized his ideas as impracticable, they still have the power to light up many lives.

Aparna Garg can be contacted at aps_garg@yahoo.com