• Priyanka Kanojia

The Indian women’s movement entered a progressive phase in the twentieth century when women first demanded female suffrage in 1917. The British Government announced the constitutional reforms in 1919. At this time, Indian women pressed for more extensive political representation in the future constitution of India. Indian women’s organisations, such as the Women’s Indian Association (WIA) and the All-India Women’s Conference (AIWC), played a significant part in the suffrage campaigns and negotiations with the Government. The paper examines the exclusion of women from the reforms of 1919 based on the social conditions of India. The British Government declared Indian women unfit for the franchise because of seclusion and lack of education. Indian women continued to engage with the Government on the franchise and carried out vigorous suffrage campaigns in India and Britain. The paper aims to reveal the suffrage activities of Indian women from 1917 to 1940. Indian women proclaimed social equality as the basis of their demand for the vote. They wished to have franchise rights to initiate social reforms for women and children in the legislatures. The paper discusses the women’s united stand against the Communal Award and separate electorates for women. In contrast, the Indian women’s organisations demanded universal adult suffrage.

Indian women, suffrage, British Government, reforms, exclusion

" Indian Women, Suffrage Campaigns and the Demand for Female Vote (1917- 1940)", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 10, page no.g706-g718, October-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2310581.pdf

" Indian Women, Suffrage Campaigns and the Demand for Female Vote (1917- 1940)", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 10, page no. ppg706-g718, October-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2310581.pdf