Swami Vivekananda's Thought On Women Education In India

It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing. So for the development of a nation women should be educated properly. Among the modern Indian religion reformers, Swami Vivekananda, a cyclonic monk and the man of positive identity argued for equality of men and women. He said that there is no chance of the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. He identified that the ignorance of women was the main hindrance for the progress of India. He declared that the western ideal of womanhood is wife, while the eastern ideal is mother. He was empathetic on women since they can transform the next generation and hence the destiny of the country. His objectives of education is man making and character building – these principles are also applied in field of women education. His educational perspective is based on applied Vedanta and western culture. He prepared different curriculum for women belonging to different social status. He also pointed out that mother tongue is the best medium for the social and mass education. He emphasized that women will study science, religion, art, housekeeping, cooking, sewing, hygiene etc. along with japa, worship and meditation. He said, “Ideal characters must always be presented before the girls to imbue them with a devotion to principles of selflessness”. Today we feel vividly the importance of women education. That’s why various women universities, colleges are opening which will help to make them strong and completely independent.