India has often been defined by its contradictions rather than homogeneities. In the 21st century, one of the remarkable contradictions has been marked by the coexistence of tradition and modernity. Indian traditions have been shaped by its history and culture spanning over two millennia. Modernity on the other hand a handiwork of westernisation and globalization has infused new ways of living and being. This infusion has been most remarkable since the LPG reforms of the 1990s. Globalisation’s cultural face has introduced new dimensions to India.

Land Of Contrasts

1. Indian society today is marked by the force of modernity sanctioned by the constitution, for example, the pursuit of equality of status and opportunity. This is seen in universal adult franchises for example. However, this coexists with the traditional pulls of caste-based discrimination where lower caste people are denied fair opportunities. For example, they continue to be disproportionately employed in prohibited jobs like manual scavenging.
2. Contrasting trends of a near 100% enrollment rates at primary level education coexists with the existence of child marriage. The future of our children is defined by contrasting forces of education and the barriers of traditions.
3. Similarly politics in India today is marked by the modern template of development-based politics. For example, 2020 Delhi assembly elections were pursued on the grounds of development in health, education, and infrastructure. On the other hand, the influence of caste and religion continues to have a disproportionate influence on electoral calculations across the country.

New Women Of India

The feminist movements and the modern idea of gender equality had resulted in the emergence of New Women in India. The ‘new woman’ in India has been defined by forces of modernity and change. This can be understood from the following processes:

1. The new Indian woman is defined by her aspirations of being more than a person defined with relation to her partner or family. She seeks to be defined independently, as a full person. Individualism is the leitmotif of her modern avatar.
2. Economic empowerment and independence is a defining force that has enabled her to break several glass ceilings. She has more economic opportunities and seeks an equal role in all economic spheres.
3. In society, the new woman seeks a more equal voice rather than being a voiceless disempowered individual. This can be seen in new forms of emerging feminist movements in India: for example Pinjra Tod movement in Universities.
4. The new Indian woman seeks greater political participation, manifested in the highest number of women parliamentarians in India through the 17th Lok Sabha elections.

New Women As Emblem Of Contrasts

However, the emergence of the new women is marked by both the new and the old, by both traditions and modernity. She stands at the crossroads of these two opposing forces and has to reconcile the two in her personal and public conduct This contradictory coexistence can be seen in the form of

However, tradition and modernity are not universally and consistently contrarian values. They can and must coexist. The need is to subvert the underlying forms of physical and non-physical violence perpetrated against women by the two forces. The constitutional commitment of equality, justice and liberty complement legislations like Right to Education, Sexual Harassment at workplace act, Dowry Prohibition Act etc. to enable new women of India to truly own “half the sky”.