Religion, Politics and Women's Equality

About the Book Religion, Politics and Women's Equality Last few decades have witnessed the rise of fundamentalist politics all over the World. In India it has come up in the name of Hindutva or Hindu Nationalism. Such type of politics is the aggressive attempt to re-impose the social values of caste, class and gender hierarchies. The language of this politics projects the Golden past to revive the hierarchies, giving them a respectable presentation. While popularly it is presumed that this politics is targeted against the religious minorities the, other major aspects of this politics is not perceived so well. This book brings forth the aspect of gender equation in this politics. The book traces the rise of Hindu nationalism as an opposition to the values of Indian nationalism, where values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity are inherent. In Hindu nationalism the patriarchal values are deeply ingrained as manifested in various of its campaigns against Valentine day celebration, girls wearing jeans and even in the very aggressive campaign built around 'love Jihad'. It presents subservient women from the past as the role model for women. The book attempts to unravel the patriarchal agenda of Hindu Nationalists. About the Author Ram Puniyani Chairman. Center for Study of Society and Secularism Mumbai. Former Professor IIT Bombay. Is associated with various secular initiatives and has been part of various investigation reports on violation of human rights of minorities. He has been conducting workshops and delivering lectures in different parts of the country on the themes related to threats to democracy; the agenda of communal politics; myths about minorities and politics of terror and Path to Peace and Justice. Books: Caste and Communalism (Olive), Communal Politics: facts versus Myths, Deconstructing Terrorist Violence (Sage), Indian Nationalism versus Hindu Nationalism (Pharos), Communalism Explained (Media House) Awards; India Gandhi National Integration ward (2006), National Communal Harmony Award (2007), Mukundan C. Menon Award (2015). Weekly column on issues related to secular values and defense of human rights. Contents Preface Introduction 1. Secularization Process , Caste and Gender Equality in India Background Religion and Human Society Secularization Secularization in India Jyotirao Phule Dr. Ambedkar Periyar Workers Savitribai Phule Freedom Movement State and Secularism Independence: Social Transformation Opposition to People’s Movements Bibliography 2. Fundamentalism and Women’s Rights Fundamentalism The Origins Islamic Countries Hindu Fundamentalism Fundamentalism and Women References 3. Struggle for Gender Equality Two Steps Forward: One Step Back Background Introduction Gender Hierarchy Different Political Streams: Attitude to Gender Transformation in Gender Equations Indian Constitution: Place of Women Decade of Eighties Cultural Manipulation Broader Picture Conclusion 4. Whither Gender Parity? Women and Patriarchal Values Today 5.‘Our’ Women, ‘Their’ Women Communal Ideology and Women 6. Communal Ideology and Violence against Women 7.Arrested Social Transformation Khap Panchayats Asserting Caste-Gender Hierarchy 8. RSS and the Gender Question 9. Riddles of Hindutva 10. Loving to Hate Valentine’s Day Rampage 11. Caging the Women Debate on Age of Consent 12. Rape: Patriarchy and Selective Historiography 13. India’s Rape Culture: Urban versus Rural 14. Preventing Crimes against Women Are Stringent Laws the only Solution?. 15. Karnataka’s Porngate, RSS Combine and Patriarchal Norms 16. Coding the Dress 17. Demonization through Demography 18. Kitchen, Church and Children Shri Ram Sene Beats up Girls in a Pub. 19. Does Love Know Religious Boundaries? 20. History and Comm unity Honor Protests against Jodha Akbar . 21. Swamis, Celibacy and Sex Scandals 22. Ayesha and the Head Scarf 23.Dolls House 24. Saluting Bilkis Bano Reflections on Gujarat 25. A House for Shabana Azmi 26. Love and be Damned: Rizwan's Story 27. Lamb Allies with Wolf! Kerala Christian Group and VHP Join Hands against Illusory Love Jihad. 28. Taslima, Hussein and Liberal Ethos 29. Lifting the Veil 30. Declining Sex Ratio: Patriarchy Prevails 31. Campaign to Curb Inter-faith Marriages Ruse to Restrict Women’s Freedom. 32. Mangal Sutra, Patriarchy and Religious Nationalism 33. Hinduism and Gender Justice Transitions in Nineteenth Century Bengal 34. Uniformity or Gender Justice 35. A Nobel for Malala 36. Can Sita be the Role Model for Contemp orary Women? 37. Striving for Gender Justice Overcoming Obstacles. Postscript Social Reforms , Muslim Women and RSS-BJP Agenda Women’s Entry to Places of Worship.. Sabarimala Shrine and Women’s Entry . Appendix Imp act of Communalism on Muslim Women What do we need?.