Salute to Indian Parliament...

India or Indus Valley Civilization dates back to as old as 5000 years... The discovery of the ancient ruins of Harappa, by Shri Dayaram Sahni in 1921 and of Mohenjo-Daro by Shri Rakhaldas Banerjee in 1922-23, both officers of the Archaeological Survey of India, exploded an age old myth. It was earlier believed that the history of India began with the coming of the Aryans. The excavation of the ruins of the highly planned cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro pushed back the history of India by almost 2000 years. It is believed beyond doubt that highly urban civilization had flourished and existed in India about 5000 years ago.
The advanced Harappan Civilization, which flourished between 2500 BCE-1500BCE, reached a stage of stagnation by 1500 BCE. Around this time, the Aryans began to arrive in India and Aryan invasion sounded the death knell for the Harappan civilization. The Aryans entered in India in stages and they settled in the Sapta Sindhu region of seven rivers. They named it Brahmavarta which means the land of the Gods. The period between 1500 BCE and 1000 BCE, during which they lived here, is known as the Early Vedic Period or the Rig Vedic Period which was composed during this time. The Aryans gradually moved ahead and settled in the Gangatic Valley and the entire area came to be called Aryavarta.
The Aryans began living in villages and each village was composed of a number of joint families. The head of the family was the eldest male member and his decision was considered to be final and binding on all the other members. Women, in the early Vedic period’s household enjoyed an important position in the society. Monogamy was the usual practice. Women were given the opportunity for education. Some women scholars have believed to have composed some of the Rig Vedic hymns. No religious ceremony could be performed unless the wife was present. Women could choose their husbands according to the ritual called Swayamvara. There was no child marriage and Widows were allowed to remarry. The study of Indian Philosophy, Vedas and Sanskrit Literature projects that women, in ancient Indian culture was not only considered compatible to men, but were given the status of Goddesses... Maa Durga, Maa Saraswati, Maa Lakshmi are worshipped unanimously.
The Aryans grouped themselves according to their skills in performing certain jobs. These eventually led to the development of four classes or varnas in the Aryan society.
The period from 1000 BCE-600 BCE, during which the Aryans settled in the Gangatic Valley is known as the Later Vedic Age. The later Vedas and the Upanishads were composed during this time. The classification of the society in the four varnas became rigid and hereditary. The four classes came to be known as the four castes... Caste was now decided by the birth and not by the occupation. Inter caste marriages were not allowed. The joint family system was further strengthened. The birth of a son was welcomed and the position of the women declined. They were now considered inferior to men. They no longer took part in the assemblies and their sole duty was to serve their husbands.
With the advent of time, the new religious beliefs came into existence in 6 century A.D. known as Islam in the Middle-East Asia and in the 7 century A.D. the Muslim invasion took place in the Indus Valley Civilization. With them they brought, their beliefs and values. According to Islam, the women were generally in ‘purdah’ and their right to education and same status as men was denied... This affected the women’s conditions in Indus valley, too and as a result, the lives of women were confined to household and to look after her family’s and husbands well beings. She did not have any say in any matter outside her home and received no education. Her exposure to the happenings of the world was near to nil and she mostly lived a life without any say or opinion. In the last two centuries, the gruesome ritual of Child Marriage and female infanticide came into existence.
The impact of Islamic influence and the continual rituals of Later Vedic Age proved to be distressful for women, living in Indian sub-continent. Later, when British came and the Indian sub-continent was put under the British rule, the same plight of the women continued. A very minute percentage of women came under the influence of educated British and received education and came out of their household to participate in public life.
The Indian women have been confined and locked in the four walls of her home since long time and has lost the courage to have her own opinion or exert her views to the society. As a result, the role of man in her life has become of a decision maker and however capable, she may be, she has always remained a second class citizen. After independence, she has been given the right to vote and voice her opinion but her opinions are generally reflection of the male member of her family... Not necessarily, she is incapable of taking an assessment on her own but probably, she has been forced to believe that she lacks the disclosure with the outside world and does not understand the nitty-gritty of leading a public life.
Women, when given the correct spotlight, have always proved her mettle... The examples are innumerable... Late Smt. Indira Gandhi, Late Smt. Benazir Bhutto, Smt. Sheikh Hasina, Late Smt. Sarojini Naidu, Smt. Jayawantiben Mehta, Smt. Anandiben Patel, Hon. President Smt. Pratibhatai Patil.. The list is endless... But these are just the few examples from our talented lot... Most of others, however capable they are, do not have the opportunity to prove themselves as our society, by rituals and beliefs, has turned into a male dominating.
To incorporate the habit of participation in public life, among the women in today’s India, the Women Reservation is a must.
Mainly,
The reason for this is as follows...
The women‘s psyche, for years has been abused and dishonored and they have always been considered an inferior human being..If not inferior, in some societies, but always homebound and her work domain has always been within the four walls of the house and matters related to it... The ones who are gifted with the capacities to denote their abilities for the betterment of the society, as much as the man himself, also hesitates to step in the outer world, in fear not to hurt the ego or the pride of male species. The reservation would ensure that their involvement in the public life... And not be a matter of tug-of-war between male and female.
It is indeed shameful that the question and fight regarding women’ reservation has to arise... The Indian Constitutions has officially presented the right of equality to women since India became Republic, but the irony is the prevalent atmosphere, which hinders the equal status to be cherished by the women.
According to the last census, in the population of India, the ratio of male-female is nearly the same but the contribution in workload is more than 33%. And the rest 66% is denoted in the household chorus..Yet, the women earn only 10% of the total income earned... This denotes that the women must be given at least 40% reservation. Out of rest of 60%, the men should be provided with the equal 40% and the rest of 20% on the basis of merit, regardless of their sex.
The reservation for women is not the end to their problems but could be a beginning of their walk on the different kind of thorny road at the end of which, the Green House of achievement awaits...
The road is not so smooth and glossy. There are many hurdles on the way...
But,
The Women Reservation ensures the entire society, the men and women equal to dedicate their complete energy for the uplifting of the fellow beings and no bargain in regards to their sex is provided.
But,
Today, after a prolonged period of uncertainties, the Women Reservation Bill is about to be passed. In the current political scenario, most of the major political posts are occupied by women. We have the first woman president since independence, Smt. Pratibha Devi Sinh Patil... The first woman speaker of Lok Sabha, Smt. Meera Kumar, Congress president Smt. Sonia Gandhi, The Leader of Opposition, Smt. Sushma Swaraj are all doing exceptional work in their chosen fields.. To top it all, Mamta Banerjee, The Bengal Tigress is giving a tough competition to veteran male politicians Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the West Bengal C.M. Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Same is the case with Jaylalitha in Tamil Nadu. The most exceptional example being of Mayawati, who has single handedly fought against the trio – Mulayam Singh’s Samajwadis, the Congress and the BJP – and prevailed successfully.
In the field of astronomy, Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams are names to reckon with Smt. Jaya Bachchan, Smt. Jaya Prada, Smt. Shabana Azmi and Smt. Hema Malini have proven their mettle having a dual career of performer as well as politician. In the field of sports, Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal have brought glories for the nation in Tennis and Badminton respectively. In the field of dance and music, Respected Lataji, Ashaji, Sitara Devi and Mrinalini Sarabhai are the shining stars of India...
Thus,
Women sparkle in every possible fields and truly deserves the opportunity to shoulder the burden as well and as good as men himself.
But,
Of course, the women bill should not become tool to provide a cushioned carpet for the families of the Who’s Who and it must provide equal chance to every capable and eligible person. But, in the beginning, it is likely that more of already little upper crusts of the society take the advantage of this opportunity. The reason being, they have more reachability to donate their time, money and energy for the uplifting of not so fortunate class. But, such discrimination should not create the class difference among the capable women but it should be an example for the talented but homebound, ritual bound women of our country.
Again, I would say that have to pass such a bill, even after the 62 years of Indian Independence and that too, when our Constitution has the provision of equal status as well as opportunity to women, is definitely an irony... but, at the same time, any special status, be it for minority or for Dalits cannot and should not become a permanent fixture. After a span of few years, when the differentiation between the man and the woman starts to decline and they both are on the same footing, the reservation should be abolished and the opportunity should be given purely on merit. Of course, that may take another quarter of a decade.
But,
Better Late Than Never...
I, as a woman, salute the Indian Parliament for passing the Bill, ever so required, for time eternal...
And,
Looking forward to contribute in my little way, for the betterment of my country...