History

Linear women empowerment in western society

Feminist scholarship is largely informed by the Western experience, where the origins of the feminist movement are typically associated with the women's suffrage movement of the 19th century, which is structured in the linear fashion through the first wave, second wave, third wave, and fourth wave of feminism.

India's case

India never had a feminist movement of the type seen in the West. India has produced scholars and warriors alike, like Yashomati, the first queen of Kashmir, and women sants of Maharashtra.

Women in ancient India

Women in ancient India, especially during the early Vedic period, enjoyed considerable autonomy and actively contributed to the knowledge production economy.
Women Rishikas participated in Shastrat, intellectual debates and discourse based on Dharma text, contributed to the Vedas and Upanishads, and were trailblazers in diverse fields of knowledge including philosophy, metaphysics, mathematics, Ayurveda, and astronomy.

Lopamudra

Born and brought up in a royal family but renounced all royal luxuries and riches after marrying Maharishi Agastya.
composed hymns in the Rig Veda, where she engages in an intellectual debate with Agastya Rishi on the subject of marriage, underscoring the primacy of mutual respect, understanding, and love in nurturing marital vows
She commented on the dynamics of interconnectedness between material life and the spiritual world.
Studied arts, philosophy, magic scriptures
Was also a scholar, philosopher, and an epitome of ideal life
focused on human well-being and spirituality.

Gargi

Lived around the 7th and 8th century BCE
Born into a learned Brahmin family, had access to education from a young age.
Father Vachaknu was a scholar and sage.
Received extensive education in philosophy, Vedic literature, metaphysics, and spiritual discourse.
Frequently invited to the prestigious intellectual gatherings where she participated in debates and philosophical assemblies alongside her male counterparts.
She is remembered for her thought-provoking debates on philosophy and metaphysics in Brihadaranyakha Upanishad.
She is known for debating with sage Yajnavalkya on the philosophical subject of the material perspective that informs reality. The debate delved into various aspects of the universe, including the essence of reality and the origins of the universe from a metaphysical perspective.
Her intellectual accomplishments include a philosophical discussion witnessed in the courts of ancient kings, particularly King Janaka of Videha.

Maitreyi

Lived around the 8th century BCE.
Her name is also mentioned in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
Little is known about her personal life, described as one of the two wives of Rishi Yajnavalkya
Unlike the other wives who were immersed in the domestic affairs, Maitreyi was inclined towards philosophical and scholarly discourse.
Received an extensive education in philosophy, Vedic literature, metaphysics, and Dharmic discourse
Known for her philosophical dialogue with her husband, Yajnavalkya, which has been described in the Brihadaranyakha Upanishad.

Lilavati

Daughter of mathematician Bhaskaracharya
- 12th-century Indian mathematician who presented solutions to many complex algebraic problems.
Pursued mathematics under the mentorship of her father.
Bhaskaracharya's well-known treatise on mathematics, LILAVATI, is considered to be a tribute to Lilavati's mathematical acumen.
- The book is an implicit recognition of Lilavati's mathematical genius and her keenness for learning.
- The book represented the guru-sishya relationship between Lilavati and her father at a symbolic level.

Khona

Lived during the 5th century CE
Woman astronomer from Bengal
Daughter-in-law of the astrologer Varahimihira
Her focus was on empirical observations of nature, encompassing fields such as agriculture, seasonal cycles, astronomy, and meteorology.

Ubhaya Bharati

Wife of Mandana Mishra of Mithila, whose debate with Adi Shankaracharya from Kerala, is well known.
Lived in the 8th century

Debate between Mandana Mishra and Adi Shankaracharya

"If I happen to be defeated in the argument, I shall take to the life of sanyasa. As requested by you, let my wife Lilavati be the judge for the contest." - Mandana Mishra
"At the end of a long period, Mandana Mishra was almost ready to accept defeat when his wife Lilavati declared that, in order to defeat a man in the debate, the opponent should also defeat his wife" - Ubhaya Bharati
After Mandana's defeat, she wondered about herself. Shankara told her, "You will remain as Sarada Pitha." Shankaracharya established a Pitha for her and invoked her presence there.
(pdf downloaded in tab)

Lal Ded

Lalleshwari or Lal ded (Granny Lal)
The Kashmiri Yogini
She represented Shiva Advaita or trans-sectarian monist consciousness. esamskriti

January 2025

Colonel Ritu Sharma - Eastern Command

Colonel Ritu Sharma has made history as one of the first women to command a unit under the Eastern Command.

As the Commanding Officer of 41 Vehicle Coy, she is at the helm of overseeing vital vehicle support for the entire Eastern Command – a responsibility that speaks volumes about her exceptional leadership and commitment.

Her appointment is more than just a career milestone; it’s a powerful message to women across the country: when determination meets hard work, nothing is impossible.

April 2025

Samudra Pradakshina

Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition 'Samudra Pradakshina' from Mumbai to Seychelles and back has been flagged-off from the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre, Colaba, Mumbai on April 7, 2025.
The expedition, featuring a 12-member crew from Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, embarks on a challenging 55-day voyage covering 4,000 nautical miles aboard the IASV Triveni.
The expedition serves as a preparatory phase for an even more ambitious circumnavigation sailing expedition planned for 2026.
The flagging-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on 30 May 2025, marking the successful completion of this ground-breaking voyage.
![obsidian|300][photo_2025-11-12_14-44-39.jpg] PIB