Feminism in the vision of Mahatma Gandhi

Abstract

Mahatma Gandhi worked not only for the political liberation of the nation, but for liberation of all the suppressed and oppressed sections of society. Among these all one of the important issue is " awakening of women " He thinks that women are gifted with equal mental capacities and therefore they have equal rights. However due to the force of custom, ignorant men are enjoining superiority over women. This is why he said, "Women must not suffer any legal disability which is not suffered by men. Both are perfectly equal" Another important thing that is marriage according to Gandhi is not only a means of the union of a women and a men but for him marriage must also be a means for realizing a spiritual life. He said, "The ideal that marriage aims at is that of spiritual union through the physical, the human love that it incarnates is intended to serve as a stepping stone to divine or universal love." Therefore in married life the husband and wife must cultivate a sense of companionship and a pattern for cooperative living. According to him men and women have the same soul and therefore they are equal. No one is superior or inferior to other. Thus in this paper I shall discuss Gandhiji's thoughts on feminism.