Women Change the World

Q30. “Rashsundari Devi was not a superstitious woman”. Discuss.

Ans. Rashsundari Devi was a housewife from a rich landlord’s family. At that time, it was believed that if a woman learnt to read and write, she would bring bad luck to her husband and become a widow. She was not superstitious, so she took this belief as false and taught herself how to read and write in secret, well after her marriage. At the age of 60, she wrote her autobiography in Bangla.

Q31. Mention the changes that occurred with emergence of new ideas about education and learning in 19th century?

Ans.  In the nineteenth century, many new ideas about education and learning emerged. Schools became more common and communities that had never learnt reading and writing started sending their children to school. But there was a lot of opposition to educating girls even then. Yet many women and men made efforts to open schools for girls. Women struggled to learn to read and write.

Q32. How do you think stereotypes, about what women can or cannot do, affect women’s right to equality?

Ans. Stereotypes, about what women can or cannot do, affect women’s right to equality:

                        i.        Many girls do not get the same support that boys do to study and train to become doctors and engineers.

                       ii.        In most families, once girls finish school, they are encouraged by their families to see marriage as their main aim in life.

Q33. Why was Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain stopped from learning Bangla and English? How did she learn these languages?

Ans. She was stopped from learning Bangla and English. In those days, English was seen as a language that would expose girls to new ideas, which people thought were not correct for them. Therefore, it was mostly boys who were taught English. Rokeya learnt to read and write Bangla and English with the support of her elder brother and an elder sister.

Q34. Write short note about Rashsundari Devi and her contribution to society in improving women situation.

Ans. Rashsundari Devi was born in West Bengal, some 200 years ago. At the age of 60, she wrote her autobiography in Bangla. Her book titled Amar Jiban is the first known autobiography written by an Indian woman. Rashsundari Devi was a housewife from a rich landlord’s family. At that time, it was believed that if a woman learnt to read and write, she would bring bad luck to her husband and become a widow. Despite this, she taught herself how to read and write in secret, well after her marriage.

Q35. Though literacy rates have increased since independence then what is the major concern?

Ans. According to the 1961 census, about 40 per cent of all boys and men were literate compared to just 15 per cent of all girls and women. In the most recent census of 2001, these figures have grown to 76 per cent for boys and men, and 54 per cent for girls and women. This means that the proportion of both men and women who are now able to read and have at least some amount of schooling has increased. But, the concern is that, the percentage of the male group is still higher than the female group. The gap has not gone away.

Q36. Write brief note about Ramabai?

Ans. Ramabai

                        i.        Ramabai championed the cause of women’s education. She never went to school but learnt to read and write from her parents.

                       ii.        She was given the title ‘Pandita’ because she could read and write Sanskrit, a remarkable achievement as women then were not allowed such knowledge.

                      iii.        She went on to set up a Mission in Khedgaon near Pune in 1898, where widows and poor women were encouraged not only to become literate but to be independent.

Q37. Give a brief life sketch of Laxmi Lakra?

Ans. Laxmi Lakra

                       i.        Laxmi Lakra is from a poor tribal family in Jharkhand. She is the first woman engine driver for Northern Railways.

                       ii.        Laxmi studied in a government school. She studied hard and did well and then went on to get a diploma in electronics.

                      iii.        She then took the railway board exam and passed it on her first attempt. In this way she broke the stereotype that engine drivers could be men only.

                      iv.        Laxmi says, “I love challenges and the moment somebody says it is not for girls, I make sure I go ahead and do it.” Laxmi has had to do this several times in her life – when she wanted to take electronics; when she rode motorcycles at the polytechnic; and when she decided to become an engine driver.