Woman: Her History and her Struggle for Emancipation

Back of the Book The book for the first time gives a graphic account of the women in Indian society from pre-historic down to the present day. Further it focuses on as how despite being denied rights on all fronts the few women who had the means to grab the opportunities, could prove their mettle worth on par with men. Besides, the role of women and the problems of women in their march towards real emancipation have been identified and discussed in detail in the study. An attempt has also been made in this near comprehensive work, to make it useful for those who are interested in "Women Studies".

Preface William Heale (1609) averred: "No lions rage against the lioness; the tiger to the tigress is not fierce; no eagles to their fellow birds oppress; the hawk does not the hawk with talons pierce; all couples live in love by nature's law. Why should not man and wife do this and more?"

It is to correct the focus with issues and themes about women, on women and of women an historical account of women in society from pre-historic to present day has been attempted in this study. On the basis of historical account presented on women, it is the avowed desire of the authors as how it would help resolve problems of women and enable their empowerment. We may feel honoured if our desire is fulfilled.

Introduction "The human life began a million or more years ago and that subhuman or hominid forms preceded mankind's evolution into Homo sapiens".

In the settled society that evolved later, first the means of production were communally owned and every member of the community was provided for on an equal basis with all others. Such was the primitive society. The primitive society in fact, was collectivist, equalitarian and democratic, or the fact that it was matriarchal, with women occupying influential and respected positions in the community. "During the period when men were occupied as full-time hunters and warriors, women developed most of the basic tools, skills and techniques at the base of social advancement. From food collecting they moved on to simple horticulture and then to agriculture. Out of great variety of crafts they practiced, which included pot-making, leather making, textile-making, house-building etc. They developed the rudiments of botany, chemistry, medicine and other branches of scientific knowledge.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages