• Dr.Sridhar Sharma

The political awakening of Indian women may largely be attributed to the movement which Gandhi initiated, and general improvement in the status of women in India owes a great deal to the infinite interest that Gandhi took from the very beginning. The women's movement in India was an integral part of the nationalist politics of Gandhi. The pre-independence period marked the beginning of awareness of the suffering of women due to oppressive social customs. During this phase a favorable climate was created to improve the status of women through legal reforms. Many laws were enacted which tried to eradicate certain social evils. In this phase an awareness of the need to remove social disabilities of women was created. The doors of education were opened for them; women's organization emerged to represent the needs and cause of middle class urban women, political participation of women increased. “Assert yourself. Don’t suppress it. Let it grow and flourish! Never mind how many things it destroys in the bargain.” (Roots and Shadows P.115)

Alienation, Suppression, Awakening, Assertion, Individuality, Women’s Rights, Self-Expression

"Indian Female Protagonists Striving for Individuality", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.2, Issue 2, page no.1013-1025, February-2015, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701194.pdf

"Indian Female Protagonists Striving for Individuality", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.2, Issue 2, page no. pp1013-1025, February-2015, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701194.pdf