A hard hitting film that underlines a woman’s freedom to her body and sexuality, the recently released movie Pink has been making people sit up and ask questions that were long forgotten. Taking consent as its central theme, the film addresses society’s unmistakable double standards: the pre-conceived notions of male privilege, moralising and misogyny that women across the country face or are likely to face on a daily basis. Although patriarchy is deeply entrenched in modern-day India, the country has a long tradition of women who resisted conformity, even under severe societal pressure. These stories of feminism are as multicultural and diverse as India itself. Here is a look at the fascinating journey of feminism through the ages in India. Photo Source In the literature of the early Vedic period, there are several mentions of female scholars like Lopamudra, Maitreyi and Gargi. Among the educated women of the era, Gargi Vachaknavi is believed to be a pioneer. In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad , she has been credited for having drawn forth from philosophers some of the most profound questions of Vedanta - the nature of the Soul ( Brahman ) and the origins of the universe - during a public debate with Vedic philosopher Yajnavalkya. In a court filled with male philosophers, Gargi fired question after question at the great sage, stumping a man who had never before been left at a loss for words. At one point, Yajnavalkya even warned Gargi that her head would fall off if she continued but when others failed to elicit the answer she was clearly aiming for, she continued her bold questioning. As Brian Black writes in his book, The Character of the Self in Ancient India ,"Gargi was, in fact, Yajnavalkya’s strongest opponent, stronger than even her male counterparts." Years later, Queen Didda, who had a leg disability, ruled Kashmir with an iron hand for more than four decades during the 10th century. Her tremendous political survival skills, her ability to rule and her achievement of stability in the fractious kingdom she had inherited is why she is sometimes called the Catherine of Kashmir, referring to the ruthless Catherine the Great (the longest ruling female leader of Russia). In the 17th century, Bibi Dalair Kaur, a Sikh woman, formed an all-woman army to fight Mughal forces. [caption id="attachment_70192" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Bibi Dalair Kaur[/caption] Photo Source When taunted by Mughal commander Wajir Khan about the weakness of women in the battlefield, she is believed to have replied fiercely with the following words: "We are the hunters, not the hunted. Come forward and find out for yourself!" Rani Velu Nachiyar of Sivaganga ruled her kingdom for over a decade, led her kingdom's army in numerous battles and even formed a special women's army named Udaiyaal after her daughter. After succeeding her father to the Kakatiya Throne at the age of 14, Rani Rudrama Devi led several battles against the nobles in her kingdom who opposed her rule because of her gender. [caption id="attachment_70193" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Rani Rudramma Devi[/caption] Photo Source Rani Chenamma of Kittur, a princely state in Karnataka, was the first Indian female ruler to lead an armed rebellion against the British East India Company. In Maratha history, Tarabai of Kolhapur, Anubai of Ichalkaranji and Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi are well known for their skill, efficiency, diplomacy, and bravery in fighting against their rivals. During the 19th century, the Indian woman's quest for civil, political and religious rights arose from the belly of the great social and religious reform movements of the era. Historians refer to the abolition of Sati as the first watershed moment in India’s modern feminist movement. A lot of the early struggle saw educated middle class men such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy (who crusaded against social evils like Sati , polygamy and child marriage), Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (who championed the cause of widow remarriage) and DD Karve ( who worked towards eradicating the bias against widows) take a feminist stand. Mahadev Govind Ranade founded the Widow Marriage Association in 1861 while Behram Malabari launched a campaign against child marriage and demanded legislature to prevent it. [caption id="attachment_70195" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] From left: Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and DD Karve[/caption] Photo Source: Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, D D Karve During this time Indian women also continued to challenge the status quo  in the background, struggling for their place in the sun. Some of the women who went on to become feminist ideals include Anandibai Joshi – the first Indian woman to study abroad, Kamini Roy - who spearheaded India’s suffragist movement and fought for a woman’s right to education, Kadambini Ganguly - the first woman to study Western medicine and, one of India's first two women graduates, Muthulakshmi Reddy - who studied in a men's college to become a doctor and went on to abolish the devadasi system. Others included Pandita Ramabai – who started a centre to support widows and studied the Kindergarten method of education, Rukmabai - who defied her child marriage to become India's first practising lady doctor and Cornelia Sorabjee - the first Indian woman lawyer. You May Like: In the 1800s, She Broke Barriers in Education, Medicine and Law and Abolished the Devadasi System A special mention must be made of the inspiring woman who is often described as one of the first modern Indian feminists. At a time when people hardly acknowledged the grievances of women in India, Savitribai Phule, along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, fought injustices against women with all they had. [caption id="attachment_70194" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Savitribai Phule[/caption] Photo Source In those days, widows used to shave their heads, wear a simple white sari and live a life of austerity. It was Savitribai who decided to stand up against this practice and organized a strike against the barbers in order to persuade them to stop shaving the heads of the widows, most of whom were still children. She also noticed the plight of sexually exploited women who, after becoming pregnant, either committed suicide or killed the newborn due to fear of banishment by society. To cater to such women, she opened a care centre (called Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha or Infanticide Prohibition House) for pregnant rape victims and helped deliver their children. She also founded the first school for women at Bhide Wada in Pune in 1848. The early 20th century too saw the rise of many courageous and strong-willed women who were instrumental in India's freedom struggle. The stories of these women revolutionaries, trade union activists, and nationalists have long been an unsung part of the historical legacy that independent India inherited. A little known story is that of Rabindranath Tagore's sister, Swarnakumari Devi. A committed social worker, Swarnakumari started an initiative, Sakhi Samiti, in 1896, to help widows, orphan girls and poverty stricken women of Bengal. She also played an active role in the Indian nationalist movement. Her daughter, Sarala Devi, also grew up to be an independent and confident woman who believed in following her convictions. [caption id="attachment_70196" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] From Left: Swarnakumari Devi, Sarala Devi[/caption] Photo Source: Swarnakumari Devi, Sarala Devi  An accomplished musician and poetess, Sarala Devi completed her education at Calcutta University and challenged the social conventions of her time by taking up a job in a school in Mysore at the age of 23. After she returned to Bengal, she actively participated in the militant nationalist movement of the state. She also attended meetings of societies that had all male members and presided over boxing, judo, swordplay and wrestling matches organised by her. The era also saw the rise of many women’s organizations like the All India Women’s Conference (AIWC). Women within the national movement had begun insisting on greater political and economic participation. These pioneering organizations included the Bharat Stri Mandal in Calcutta, formed in 1910 by Sarala Devi, and the Women’s India Association founded in 1917 by Annie Besant, Dorothy Jinarajadasa, Malati Patwardhan, Ammu Swaminathan, Mrs Dadabhoy, and Mrs Ambujammal. Annie Besant also led the Home Rule League and was elected President of the Calcutta Congress session in 1917. The year 1917 was also significant as Sarojini Naidu led a delegation of women to meet the Montagu-Chelmsford Committee to demand a series of reforms in the condition of Indian women. In 1925, Sarojini Naidu was elected President of Indian National Congress, the first Indian woman to hold that post. Also Read: From a Child Bride to India’s First Practising Woman Doctor: The Untold Story of Rukhmabai  It is easy to dismiss some of these achievements by pointing out that most of these women came from affluent, educated and urban households. But even within their spheres, they all fought uphill battles to establish themselves as different and to speak out against the norm. Post Independence, the question of women's rights appeared to retreat from public discourse for a few years. The second wave of the women’s rights movement began in the mid 1970s. The issues raised this time were wide ranging - from land rights and political representation to divorce laws and child custody to sexual harassment at work, dowry and rape. The women’s movement interrogated the existing laws, with their questions becoming central in public discourse. Indian feminist writings, especially those by Toru Dutt, Lalithambika Antharajanam, Ismat Chugtai, and Mahashweta Devi, also made their presence felt globally. [caption id="attachment_70200" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] From Left: Ishmat Chugtai, Toru Dutt[/caption] Photo Source: Ishmat Chugtai, Toru Dutt In 1974, the Committee on Status of Women presented its findings in the form of a watershed report Towards Equality  that laid the foundation of women's movement in independent India, highlighting discriminatory socio-cultural practices, political and economic processes.  Its authors included Vina Mazumdar and Lotika Sarkar, the duo who later founded the Centre for Women’s Development Studies in Delhi. In 1980, an anti-rape campaign was launched that led to emergence of autonomous women's organisation in several cities of India. There was Saheli in Delhi, Vimochana in Bengaluru, and Forum Against Oppression of Women in Mumbai among others. Special Interest Groups that focused on legal aid for women also came into existence and several legal reforms took place. A great example is that of the landmark Vishaka Guidelines that came into being in 1997, outlining the process for dealing with sexual harassment at the workplace (later superseded by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act of 2013). Entering the 21 st century, Indian feminism engaged with a whole host of issues - from domestic violence and rape to victim shaming and consent. Indira Jaisingh's tireless work was instrumental in the framing of the Domestic Violence Act (2005). Jaisingh was also the first woman to be appointed as an Additional Solicitor General of India in 2009. Senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India, Meenakshi Arora's persistent efforts led to the framing of the Vishakha Guidelines, which later culminated in the legislation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013). [caption id="attachment_70203" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] From Left: Meenakshi Arora, Vrinda Grover, Indira Jaisingh[/caption] Photo Source: Meenakshi Arora, Vrinda Grover, Indira Jaisingh Activist Kavita Krishnan set in motion a series of protests and uproar after the 2012 Nirbhaya rape case, which eventually led to the legislation of the Criminal Law Amendment 2013 that made changes in the existing rape laws in the nation. Identified by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential women in 2013, lawyer Vrinda Grover was also influential in the drafting of the Criminal Law Amendment of 2013. Even though there still remains a lot of work to be done, the movement to secure rights for women in India has come a long way thanks to these inspiring and fierce personalities who made it possible by relentlessly fighting the forces of patriarchy. There were and still are many other individuals and organizations who are also working for gender equality and justice in India and their efforts are paying off. Feminism in present-day India has been showing some encouraging trends. First, increasing economic liberty is allowing women to fight stereotyping. Second, what women want is changing - from economic rights to social and sexual rights. Third, women are not vacating their spaces - they are negotiating harder to expand them. Fourth, there is genuine partnership and collaboration among men and women, particularly youngsters, to embrace meaningful gender equality. Finally, the internet and information revolution is helping women form communities and networks, giving them a bigger voice and tools to organize themselves, forge partnerships and demand their rights. Most academics attribute the growth of feminism in India to western influence, disregarding the fact that feminism is multicultural - the needs and problems of women who live in different countries are dissimilar. However, Indians did not have to borrow feminism from the West. Throughout history, Indian women have asserted themselves in multiple ways and broken free of oppressive social norms. These whispers of rebellion were bypassed or ignored by patriarchal documentations, but they were always there and they must be remembered. Also Read: Do You Know What Made Anandi Joshi Become India’s First Lady Doctor At A Time When No Girl Was Educated In India? Like this story? Have something to share? Email: contact@thebetterindia.com, or join us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia). NEW! Log into www.gettbi.com to get positive news on Whatsapp.

By Benjamin Kang Lim and Ben Blanchard BEIJING (Reuters) - A year before a Communist Party conclave that could decide who will eventually replace him as China’s next leader, President Xi Jinping is maneuvering to reduce the power of a rival political bloc while seeking to get members of his own faction onto the country’s top ruling body, according to three sources with ties to the leadership. Xi is trying to prevent the Communist Youth League faction from dominating the party’s seven-member Standing Committee during the 19th congress next year, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There is no way Xi will let the Youth League have a majority in the Standing Committee,” one of the sources told Reuters.

Amidst increasing tension after the Uri terror attack and the surgical strikes on terrorist camps, a Karachi-based comedian Shehzad Ghias Shaikh took to Facebook to share reasons why he thinks India and Pakistan should not go on war. “Why are some people in Pakistan suggesting we go to war with India? They are the only country in the world with Katrina Kaif. Have they not seen her mango drink advertisements?” he asks. In a Facebook post that went viral after he posted it on September 22, Shehzad also gives hilarious alternatives to war like, “Tahir Shah and Himesh Reshamiya can have a singing competition. There is potential for superhit duets like Eyes dikhla ja and Dil kee soorkh deewaron par eyes hai teri teri.” In times when terror and hatred seem to have the upper hand, a humorous take on the issue should bring a sense of respite and hope for those who are looking forward to friendship. Read the post here: Why go to war with India? Why are some people in Pakistan suggesting we go to war with India? They are the only... Posted by Shehzad Ghias Shaikh on  Thursday, September 22, 2016 Why go to war with India? Why are some people in Pakistan suggesting we go to war with India? They are the only country in the world with Katrina Kaif. Have they not seen her mango drink advertisements? On the other hand, India too should be mindful about escalating tensions on the Line of Control. If we ask Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar to come back, Indian ladies will have to go back to swooning over the likes of Sunil Shetty and Ajay Devgan. India and Pakistan should share a friendlier border so that it is easier for Sania Mirza to travel back and forth between her sasural and maika. Maybe that way, Shoaib Malik might also get a chance to play a little cricket while Sania is away visiting her parents. We have lived next to each other as neighbours for 67 years now. Sure, when I moved into my own neighbourhood, I would throw lemons at my neighbour and he would play cricket on my porch claiming that he had rights over it; but we eventually found a way to live together. Now, we are living off the sugar and potatoes borrowed from each other every other day. We even get together and gossip about the neighbourhood. India and Pakistan should do the same; discussing how Bangladesh is now old enough to get married and find a reasonable superpower suitor for her or how they saw Sri Lanka shopping at Sunday Bazaar despite claiming she only wears “designer joras”. If either sees that the Chinese ambassador is sneaking into the embassy late every night, they can conjecture over what new country it might be having an affair with. India and Pakistan should also do the number one thing that makes a neighbour just the absolute best: sending leftover biryani from functions at their house. Households in both countries have forged friendships with their neighbours and healthy communities. You can even say that it is a Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. If India feels that they have the upper hand right now and they can exploit that, it should not forget that Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahoo Thi. They should become a good Humsafar to us rather than acting like Mera Sultan. And if both the countries keep insisting on competing, instead of co-operating, then, there are still better alternatives to war available. Here are some ideas: Shahrukh Khan and Sahir Lodhi can compete against each other for the ‘Best Sahir Lodhi Impersonator Award'. Tahir Shah and Himesh Reshamiya can have a singing competition. There is potential for superhit duets like Eyes dikhla ja and Dil kee soorkh deewaron par eyes hai teri teri. They can play a game of Gullu Danda, combining the powers of the non-violence of Gandhi’s Danda and the non-non-violence of Gullu Butt. A spelling bee competition between Bilawal Bhutto and Rahul Gandhi where they would be asked to spell words in Urdu and Hindi respectively. A Master Chef style competition between India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, famous for starting his career selling chais and Pakistan’s President, Mamnoon Hussain, rumoured to have started his career selling dahi bhallas. Both the leaders can set up food stalls to see who can outsell the other. Alternatively, we can even create a Pacman style game where Nawaz Sharif eats everything. Raghu Ram of MTV Roadies honour and Waqar Zaka of Living on the Edge dishonour can audition each other for their respective shows to see who is the most ‘daring’. I would also suggest a competition to see which country has the better Coke Studio, but then even Pepsi agrees that Pakistan’s Coke Studio is the best. These are just some suggestions; we can incorporate all the ideas to have an Olympic style competition between the countries; anything to bring the two closer together. Hopefully, we do not have to see another scene of Meera and Ashmit Patel kissing on screen to make that happen. Celebrities of both countries should come forward to volunteer themselves for these competitions. The Tahirul Qadri of India (popularly known ‘Zakir Naik’) can compete in a memory test against our sports anchor, Mirza Iqbal Baig. Both of them have the uncanny ability to remember the minutest of details. Mirza Iqbal Baig often greets his guests on the show with intros like, “17th October kee duphayr 4 bajay Karachi kay National Stadium kay Javed Miandad Pavilion kay ground floor kay bathroom kay 4th stall mai aap nay jab 20 minute kay baad cheekh mari toh phir mai Rose Petal ka 17 rupay ka 2-ply Toilet Paper 8 steps le kar aap kay pass laya.” On the other hand, the following is an excerpt from an actual conversation between Zakir Naik and a waiter at a restaurant in India: Waiter: “Hello sir, what may I get you?” Zakir Naik, “I will have item number 47 on page number 7.” Waiter: “Sure sir, that is the Chicken Burger, would you like any fries with that?” Zakir Naik, “Why? Why would I order fries brother? It is written, on Page number 7, line number 8, it states all burgers come with fries.” Waiter: “Alright sir, that would be Rs 500.” Zakir Naik: “Why 500? It is written on Menu Page 7 that the cost of the chicken burger is Rs 427. India Act of Taxation 1965 page number 45 Clause Number 7 part B clearly states that charging more than 16 per cent GST is haram. 16 per cent of Rs 427 is Rs 68.32, so total is Rs 495.32. Why are you charging 4 rupees and 68 paisas extra? It is haraam, brother.” It is rumoured that Zakir Naik even reached out to Imran Khan to organise a dharna over the 'dhandlee' at the restaurant. The Olympics could even feature a dharna competition between PTI and Anna Hazare. We have reached out to India on numerous occasions to improve relations between the two countries. We even let them win a World Cup semi-final, when Sachin Tendulkar was batting, all Pakistani fielders were busy pretending they were Kamran Akmals. Oh by the way, the latest research says Kamran Akmal can potentially help cure many Ebola patients; he is apparently the only person who is unable to catch it. India needs to treat Pakistan as equals. We are not far behind them in any field. Modi met Obama and we had Osama, we are literally just a letter away from them. They sent a satellite to Mars and I just sent Fazlu kaka to the store to get me a Mars bar. We even made a car that runs on water. Now, only if we had water to run that car. Somebody needs to make a car that runs on pan ki peek for Karachi. India is also known for the Taj Mahal but I doubt that impresses any Pakistani. Our country has made a national hobby out of putting women in walls. There is a saying in Punjab, "Jinay deewar mai chuniya hee nahee o jamiya hee nahee". Pakistan is the Yin to India's Yang; we are the aman in their asha; we are the lawn print to their fashion; the rice to their biryanis; the Disney Prince to their Disney Princess. India, your movies taught me that “pyar dosti hai” so despite the fact that we are fighting with each other, you need to understand that kuch kuch hota hai, tum nahee samjho gay. Do not wait till this Kajol becomes all beautiful and gets wooed by a Salman Khan. Let us try to be friends and if things work out, maybe some years down the line, our parents will meet each other and pave the way for our everlasting happiness. Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!