On 18th July 1947, Mrs. Renuka Ray [West Bengal General] at the Constituent Assembly spoke as follows;
“Before the 1935 Act came in the representatives India’s Women made it very clear that they were against reservation seats or any special privileges for Women they made it this clear through the All India Women’s Conference. Our representatives; three women who gave evidence before the Joint Parliamentary Committee made it clear in unequivocal terms [I may say that Rajakumari Amrit Kaur were one of the three Women – that they did not want reservation, but in spite of our protest and in direct contravention to our desire reservation of seats were brought into in 1935 Act. This Act has been so great a factor in bringing dissensions in our fold and at last divided the Country but the heart is strong where there is some sound Judgment no machination can divide and the Women did not allow themselves to be caught in the fray. It would be wrong to say that all the credit for our attitude goes to Women from the very start of our national awakening in this Country, enlightenment have encouraged Women to come forward as equal partners in the struggle for freedom to do justice for national regeneration in the different walks of life.
When Mahatma Gandhi gave his call so specifically with a women of this Country to take part in the National Movement all the social barriers of centuries broke down there are no words to convey the gratitude of the Women of this Country to this Great Man who has today brought the Country to the very threshold of freedom [applauding]. It is not only the inherent qualities of Women that more particularly I should say the qualities of our Men is responsible for the fact that in our Country there has never been any stripe within Men and Women.”
Comment: The fight for equality gained its full strength when Gandhi initiated it at the very early of his national life.
FOOD For your thought: “Most of the productive economic activity took place in the Janapada power comes from the country side— Agriculture was most important economic activities cultivable land is better than mines because mines fill only the treasury while agricultural production both fills the treasury and the storehouses.” – Kautilya – Arthashashtra.