Struggle of women for their political rights

The right of vote and contesting elections is common practice for women in modern world, but there were many suffrage organizations involved in achieving these rights for them. Various groups and organizations and associations reflected women’s concerned during the twentieth century. These organizations became the medium for the expression of women’s opinion. At the same time, these organizations served as a training ground for women who later on took up the leadership roles in politics and other social institutions. Education also brought a unique change during this period as a new elite class emerged in large towns and cities and gave leadership to the society. The formation of Indian National Congress provided them a meeting place and gave them an opportunity to express and motivate towards taking action. At the beginning of the twenty-first century the journey of women to attain their political rights began when Mahila Parishads established, and they used to hold national conferences to discuss the topics of female education, abolition of evil, social customs such as dowry, neglect of widows, child marriage and others. Women’s right to vote was first time demanded in 1917 and Madras was the first province where government allow the women to vote and participate in elections, and these rights were extended to Punjab in 1926.