How did the movement for the liberation of women receive a great stimulus from the rise and growth of the nationalist movement in India?

In the beginning, the nationalist movement was mainly in the form of upliftment of society through socio-religious reforms. During this phase of socio-religious movements, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidhyasagar, D. K. Karve etc. propagated widow-remarriage, female education, right to inheritance of women in paternal property, abolition of child marriage system and polygamy. In Muslim society, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan led reforms to remove ‘burkha’ system and polygamy besides preaching female education.

During the later phase of political agenda in nationalist movement, leaders actively opposed the British rule. Under Gandhi, Indian women had active participation in non-cooperation and disobedience movements. Women also started picketing shops and campaigning for swadeshi, thus widened their field of activities to the Indian political freedom movements. As the national movement became stronger, women like Sarojini Naidu acquired active leadership role. The national movement, thus, played an important role in women liberation.

Topics: GS-I: Modern Indian History & Freedom Struggle