Rahul Gandhi Says Women Belong to Themselves, Rejects Manusmriti’s View

“You don’t belong to anybody but you belong to yourself,” Mr. Gandhi said during the interaction.

The Congress leader said women, irrespective of their age, were generally more sensitive, compassionate, gentle and forward-looking than men, and therefore constituted a major asset for the country. He also invoked the Manusmriti while speaking about women’s independence. He said the Manusmruti says “In childhood, a female must be subject to her father. In youth, she belongs to her husband, when her lord is dead to her sons; A woman must never be independent,” and added that said such words were shameful and should never be spoken.

“Women should be independent and stand for themselves and believe in themselves. You do not belong to anybody except yourself,” Mr. Gandhi said while addressing the female students.

The Congress leader discussed issues ranging from violence and sexual harassment to women’s participation in the workforce, access to education and ownership of property. He also questioned the patriarchal mindset that gives greater importance to the education and opportunities of sons than daughters.

During the programme, female students shared their personal experiences and concerns with Mr. Gandhi.

Suchitra Pagi, who hails from Palghar district and is pursuing a master’s degree in economics in Pune, spoke about the difficulties faced by women while travelling on public transport. She said the situation was particularly worrying when girls faced harassment on buses but were reluctant to speak out against such incidents.

Tejaswani, a postgraduate student in fashion who has four sisters, said she was working while pursuing her studies and used a bicycle to travel in Pune. She also raised concerns over the lack of support available to women in cases of sexual violence.

Other students, including Maitri, Pragya Kumar Gawande, Sheikh Amana Osama and Nisha, raised issues concerning women’s education, safety, public transport and equal opportunities.

Ms. Gawande, a second-year BSc student of Cyber and Digital Science, said she works as a receptionist to meet her travel expenses. She called for fair and equal opportunities for women to learn and become self-reliant.

Ms. Osama, a second-year BA student from Bhiwandi, said girls in several families were still denied adequate educational opportunities. She stressed the need to make public transport safer, particularly when buses are overcrowded.

Nisha, a tribal student, raised issues concerning the education and welfare of tribal students. She spoke about the difficulties faced by students living in Ashram schools and hostels, particularly when educational institutions are located far from their homes.

Mr. Gandhi also discussed women’s safety, saying women face violence, disrespect and control in various forms. He questioned the social attitudes that restrict their freedom. He spoke about the under-reporting of crimes against women, including rape and molestation, and emphasised the need to ensure that women can speak freely and participate equally in public life.

Bhojpuri folk singer Neha Singh Rathod, who also participated in the interaction, spoke about the challenges faced by women who speak out in public life and questioned the incumbent government. She said women often face character assassination when they raise their voices.

The discussions also touched upon the persistence of patriarchal attitudes and the need to challenge the mindset associated with the Manusmriti and the oppression of women.

Mr. Gandhi urged women to assert themselves and fight for their space in society. “Smash the patriarchy” was among the messages highlighted during the interaction.

Concluding the programme, Mr. Gandhi urged women to be vocal about their rights and aspirations, telling them: “Be loud, be proud and fight for your space in society.”