Madison MilesWorld History II HonorsApril 17, 2014Traditional Roles of Indian Women (Before and After Leela's Time)Starting in the Vedic period around 1700 BCE, women living in Indian society have been documented as subordinate to men in all aspects of life. Throughout medieval India and into the 19th century, women endured a lifestyle characterized by limited freedom. This lack of freedom stems from the strict rules of the caste system regarding women and the overall male-dominated world that India has accepted for so long. Traditional society was not a welcoming place for girls, as they endured a confined lifestyle as housewives. Women were not allowed to receive an education, work, choose their own marriage, or plan their own lives. However, at the turn of the 19th century, the rise of the concept of nationalism led social reformers such as Roy Mohan Roy and Behramji Malabari to speak out against injustice against women. During this period, Indian women began to form their own organizations regarding inequality and became active participants in the women's movement. Although women endured hardship and inequality throughout India's early years, nationalism actually gave male political reformers the opportunity to denounce this patriarchal society. As a result, women became a force in the struggle for freedom and broadened the base of the women's movement. The caste system was divided into four Varnas or the literal term “color”. It started at the top with the Brahmins and worked its way up to the Sudras. The principle of caste is that no one can marry or “receive into their home a person of another caste” (Caste system, Indian). Additionally, caste controlled what one ate. Leela was part of the Brahmin caste, which is the richest and most...... middle of paper ......viben caste. She learns that she can “use an education” because times are changing. Leela herself becomes part of the reform movement, as she realizes that she wants to become a teacher and break away from the traditional roles that society has assigned to her. She leaves her small town to go to boarding school with the desire to break with tradition and “accomplish so much” (272). In post-independence India, a large number of women's groups emerged. These groups challenging patriarchy have addressed various issues such as violence and a “greater share of women in political decision-making”. The nationalist movement of the 19th century led men such as Roy Mohan Roy and BM Malabari to speak out against female injustice. Their courage and desire to break free from traditional values ​​allowed women to create their own groups to address the issues they face on a daily basis...