In recent internet news a video of  Indian actress Mallika Sherawat berating a journalist who was questioning her about her statements on “India being a regressive country” has gone viral.  The journalist was criticizing Ms. Sherawat for putting India in a negative light with her statements.  Ms. Sherawat countered that she was not doing that but bringing the state of women’s rights to the forefront in an effort to rectify the dire situation in India.

In addition to violence against women, many of the wrongs that are done to women have been encouraged by superstitions. The birth of a girl child is considered unfortunate and tin some states the custom of female infanticide is practiced. Girls are still not educated in many parts of our country. They rare married off at an early age as the custom of child marriage still continues in rural areas.

Women are treated as domestic labor and have no financial or decision making rights. They are expected to obey their husbands and never assert themselves. The custom of purdah is still prevalent among many sections of the Indian society and women are not encouraged to venture out of the house. They remain economically dependent for this reason.

Daughters still do not enjoy the same inheritance rights as sons and even when the law is in their favor, social custom does not permit them to assert their rights. Widows are not allowed to remarry and are often ill-treated. The custom of ‘sati’ or burning a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre was practiced in our country and even till date cases are reported. Another social problem is of dowry. At the time of marriage, dowry is given by the girl’s parents as many demands are made on them.

The year 2001 is seen as landmark as it was declared the Year of Women’s Empowerment (Swashakti) by the Government of India. The National Policy for the Empowerment of Women was also passed the same year. Two states Kerala and Mizoram have attained universal female literacy rates. In urban India, girls are nearly at par with the boys in terms of education.  As Ms. Sherawat would state herself knowledge and education are necessary for the advancement of women in India and an end to the unjust violence and discrimination against them.

The viral video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kHSikgTOz70#t=12