HISTORY OF WOMEN EDUCATION IN INDIA
Dr. Saswati Roy Chowdhury, Asst. Professor, Padmaja Naidu College of Music-Burdwan University.:Burdwan. ABSTRACT Women in ancient India were entitled to the very important rite of Upanayana, which would give them the right to study the Vedas just like men. In later ages, they were unfortunately barred from it and thereby from Vedic education. Later, the access of women to Buddhist and Jain orders gave an impetus to their education. During the Muslim period, female education still deteriorated due to the evil practice of purdah. However, during the Buddhism and Jainism movement, certain lady saint-scholars flourished. During the British period female education got only lip service from the Government. It was private bodies and missionaries who took more initiative for the qualitative and quantitative development of female education. During this period, female education was concentrated in urban areas and there was hardly any schools for women in rural areas. Consequently, in Read More …