Indian Muslim Women and Education: Status, Issues and Remedies

Abstract

Considering Indian situation, women in India enjoy special status. Post Independent India made several attempts to raise level of education in general and for the women in particular as it was considered to be instrumental to bring overall development, i.e. social, economic, cultural and political development, of the society. Many commissions and committees were set up to improve the status of women education during Post Independence in India. Many positive steps were taken by the state to enhance the participation of women at all levels of education. Constitutional provisions also guaranteed the education of women and made special provisions for the state to take appropriate and affirmative action for their education. However it seems that the muslim women in India have not taken full advantage of the benefits of such schemes and provisions. Muslims in India are the largest minority comprising 14% of the total population of the country and the literacy rate of muslims is the lowest among all the religious groups and the literacy rate of muslim women is lower than their counterparts and the worse among all the women groups in the country. In almost all fields of education the condition of muslim women is deplorable and is a subject of grave concern for the parents, muslim intellects, educationists and the policy makers as the development of the nation may not be achieved ignoring education of such large section of the society. Hence, the present paper will examine the issues involved in muslim women education, approach of the state and the religious intellect and the role of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). The paper will also suggest the measures to overcome such a plight so that the women may shoulder educational, economic and political responsibilities with their counterparts in an equal manner.