SENIOR INTERMEDIATE

English Prose
Annotations

The Awakening of Women

(Lesson No 7)
By K M Panikkar

1 Undoubtedly, women in ancient India enjoyed much higher

status than their descendants in the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries.
Introduction: These lines form a part of the fascinating essay
'The Awakening of Women' By one of India's most acclaimed
writers and novelists, K M Panikkar. The article is an exciting
account of the significance of women in India and the gradual
progression of their status. Clarity of expression and simplicity
in style is the highlight of the essay.
Context & Meaning: The writer, while comparing the position
of women in India before and after the eighteen century,
believes that women in ancient India occupied an enviable
place in the country. However, in the 18th and 19th centuries,
their position took a nosedive for the worse. During this period,
the women folk were under societal duress. However, the
Gandhian movement came to their rescue, and their legitimate
rights were restored.
General Relevance: The writer vividly traces the transformation
of women's advancement with supporting and convincing
details.
2 From the first days of his movement, Gandhi realized that
there was a source of immense untapped power in the
womanhood of India.
Introduction: These lines form a part of the fascinating essay
'The Awakening of Women' By one of India's most acclaimed
writers and novelists, K M Panikkar. The article is a fascinating
account of the significance of women in India and the gradual
progression of their status. Clarity of expression and simplicity
in style is the highlight of the essay.
Context & Meaning: The writer, while comparing the position
of women in India before and after the eighteen century, says
that the advent of the Gandhian era saw a marked uplift in the
status of women. From the start of the movement, Gandhiji felt
that there was a vast unexploited power in women and worked
untiringly to restore their place, which could well come in
handy for the country's development.
General Relevance: The writer sheds light on how Gandhiji
facilitated the transition by himself, realizing the potential in
women and there, after restoring their rightful place to them.

3 It was a matter of surprise to the outside world that

independent India should have appointed women to the
highest posts so freely, as members of the Cabinet.
Introduction: These lines form a part of the fascinating essay
'The Awakening of Women' By one of India's most acclaimed
writers and novelists, K M Panikkar. The report is a fascinating
account of the significance of women in India and the gradual
progression of their status. Clarity of expression and simplicity
in style is the highlight of the essay.
Context & Meaning: The writer, Panikkar, while celebrating the
active participation of women in the national movement, says
that they surged ahead to occupy important posts in the
government. Men and women were given rights on par with
each other, and this feature took the outside world by surprise,
for they were given to understand that India was a man's
world.
General Relevance: The writer shows how the world was awed
by the resurgence (reappearance) of women's supremacy and
how they went on to hold the power of authority in the
country.
4 The contribution of women to modern India may have led to
a reintegration of social relationships.
Introduction: These lines form a part of the fascinating essay
'The Awakening of Women' By one of India's most acclaimed
writers and novelists, K M Panikkar. The report is an exciting
account of the significance of women in India and the gradual
progression of their status. Clarity of expression and simplicity
in style is the highlight of the essay.
Context & Meaning: While glorifying the immense contribution
of women in various spheres of activity and the enviable
position they have occupied, the writer, Panikkar, is of the view
that this change has heralded their awakening in the real sense
of the term and has brought back the lost social bonding which
had either to dwindled in the 18th and 19th centuries.
General Relevance: The writer praises Indian women for
bouncing back into the limelight and establishing a rightful and
respectable place in society and the country.
 Short Answers

1 Why were Indian women in the nineteenth century the most

backward of all women in the world?
Ans: Professor K M Panikkar was an Indian statesman and
diplomat. Known to be a prolific (creative) writer, his interest in
art and literature had no bounds (limits). He has written several
books in English and Malayalam. 'India through the Ages,' 'The
Himalayas in Indian Life,' and 'Liberalism and Federal
India' are some of his renowned (famous) works. He is also
credited (recognized) to be the fastest writer of his time.

There are several reasons why Indian women were relegated to

the background in the nineteenth century. Confined (restricted)
to the four walls of their houses, deprived of education and
forced into child marriages, kept under repression (domination)
during the marriage, early maternity, and constrained (forced)
to live a life of unhappiness during widowhood are some of the
many reasons why Indian women were considered the most
backward of all women in the world.
However, the Gandhian movement later brought about a sea
change in their lives.

2 But when the movement was started, women were

everywhere at the forefront. Elaborate.
Ans: Professor K M Panikkar was an Indian statesman and
diplomat. Known to be a prolific writer, his interest in art and
literature had no bounds. He has written several books in
English and Malayalam. 'India through the Ages,' 'The
Himalayas in Indian Life, ' 'Liberalism and Federal India' are
some of his renowned works. He is also credited with being the
fastest writer of his time.
From the very first days of the movement, Gandhiji felt that
there was a vast unexploited power in the womanhood of
India. However, he was sceptical of the response because of
the severe constraints imposed on them earlier. However, he
was surprised when women found their way in every sphere of
activity. Be it picketing liquor shops, undertaking civil
disobedience, or boycotting foreign goods. They made their
presence felt in villages and towns, defying all social taboos and
restrictions. Hence equal participation of women became the
order of the day.

3 What is the true test of the changed position of women in

India?
Ans: Professor K M Panikkar was an Indian statesman and
diplomat. Known to be a prolific writer, his interest in art and
literature had no bounds. He has written several books in
English and Malayalam. 'India through the Ages,' 'The
Himalayas in Indian Life,' and 'Liberalism and Federal
India' are some of his renowned works. He is also credited with
being the fastest writer of his time.
The Gandhian movement ignited the spirit to fight for their
legitimate rights. Despite being kept under wraps for a long
time, the Indian women fought back, braving all hurdles, thus
bringing about a revolutionary change by participating
wholeheartedly in all spheres of nationwide activity. From
villages to towns, they were all-pervasive, holding enviable
posts in the country's government.

4 Name some legislative reforms mentioned in the essay 'The

Awakening of Women' that seeks to establish women's
equality.
Ans: Professor K M Panikkar was an Indian statesman and
diplomat. Known to be a prolific writer, his interest in art and
literature had no bounds. He has written several books in
English and Malayalam. 'India through the Ages,' 'The
Himalayas in Indian Life,' and 'Liberalism and Federal
India' are some of his renowned works. He is also credited with
being the fastest writer of his time.
The Gandhian movement stirred up deep emotions in the
womanhood of India, the result of which was the initiation of
several legislative reforms, with the right to equality for women
being the most significant. Right to independent property,
freedom of marriage, education, employment, raising the age
of consent for marriage, and the like were the other reforms
that eventually sounded the awakening of women in the real
sense of the term.