that women in the state in no way enjoy a better socio-economic status. Of course, a greater number of women are now stepping out of their homes and working towards economic self-reliance - but these are just a few in number and in very initial stages. Even socially, there is no improvement. Women have started venturing out for social freedom, but there is no support from the family or society at large or respect for the fair sex. Mrinalini Sarabhai, noted dansuese: A lot of work was and is being done by women in Gujarat ever since the pre-Independence time. Women have been aware of their problems, and, there were and are a lot of voluntary agencies to guide them towards a better life. However, it has not resulted in a better socio-economic status which is not good. This will not happen until men realise that women should also share an equal status and come forward to help them achieve the same. It is not all darkness for women LUCKNOW:IT was good to note that the philosophy department of Lucknow University, under the guidance of its head, Dr Roop Rekha Verma, was gradually emerging as a catalyst for women's issues in the city. Sometime ago it organised a screening of the film Asli Azadi, portraying women's role in the Freedom Movement. The film showed how even when women were present, their role was only supportive and marginal. So while it was emancipated enough by the standards of the day, it was emancipation within limits imposed by the patriarchy. This had already been dealt with in these columns. More recently, we had a talk by the noted feminist historian, Prof Uma Chakravarty of Delhi University, on the same theme: how malestream history has ignored women's roles and perceptions. Women's perspectives were absent even in the various subaltern studies that had concentrated on oppressed males like Dalits and tribals, rather than on women within this oppressed category. Result:Even more marginalisation of women in academia. Prof Cha...
