Write a letter to a foreign pen-friend, who has asked you about the status of women in Indian society.

Write a letter to a foreign pen-friend, who has asked you about the status of women in Indian society.

Examination Hall.

July 10, ………..

Dear Joseph,

I was thrilled to receive your cordial note of the 1st of July. I am really happy at the keen interest you have shown in the Indian social conditions. It was quite natural for you to show some concern about the status of women in India, particularly in view of the wide coverage that the Shahbano case received in the press.

In India, the women have always enjoyed equality of status and of opportunity along with their menfolk. You must have read that in ancient India women enjoyed the right of Swayamvara, that is, they were free to choose their own life partner. Razia Sultan, Chand Bibi, Rani Durgavati, Nur Jehan, Ahilyabai and other illustrious daughters of India are treated as legendary figures.

With the advent of Western influence and modern education, the position of women in India has improved further. Today, as a general rule, women occupy roughly 10 percent of the entire working force in almost every field of economic, social and political activity. They have distinguished themselves in almost every sphere of life. We have women politicians, ministers, administrators, writers, entrepreneurs, industrialists, doctors, teachers, ambassadors and whatnot.

It was an Indian woman, Mrs. Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, who became the first woman Chairman of the UNO General Assembly. Her niece Indira Gandhi dominated the Indian political scene for about two decades. Sarojini Naidu and Sucheta Kripalani had made their political presence felt both before and after Independence. At the moment, we have a number of lady ministers, governors and administrators, judges, doctors, engineers and architects.

Whether it is Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service or Indian Foreign Service, women in respectable numbers are there to grace the cadres. And they are not lacking in their performance. A woman Deputy Commissioner of Police has left an indelible mark in the capital by her excellent performance.

P.T. Usha and Jyotirmoyee Sikdar have made a mark in the field of sports and Bachendri Pal has already become the first Indian woman to set foot on Mount Everest. Ms. Santosh Yadav has achieved the distinction of having climbed Mount Everest twice. There are many number of women writers and journalists. The memory of world-famous painter Amrita Shergil is still fresh in the public mind. Mahadevi Verma and Amrita Pritam have already won the prestigious Jnanpeeth Award. Recently, Arundhati Roy has bagged the prestigious Booker Prize.

Woman doctors, teachers and nurses are rendering very valuable service to the humanity. In the field of music Lata Mangeshkar has become a legend and, till date, remains unsurpassed. Women have played their role in film industry very well and are now rubbing shoulders with their European and American counterparts in accepting and performing bolder roles.

Indian women are on the move and enjoy equal rights and responsibility along with menfolk in all spheres of activity.

More when I hear from you.

Yours sincerely,

(X)