Tukadoji Maharaj’s visionary approach on women empowerment

By Jayashree Chari :

SWAMI Vivekananda once said, “There is no chance for welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing.” Great mind thinks alike. This was proved when Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj in Marathi epic ‘Gram Geeta’, spoke about ‘Mahilonnati’ (Women empowerment). The 20th chapter portrays the need of woman empowerment. Kannan Thirumalai, retired person from Indian Railways and a lover of Indian literature from Nagpur pointed out that Sant Tukadoji Maharaj stated ‘Jichyaa haatee paalanyaachee doree, Teech jagaate uddharee’ (a mother who holds the rope of the cradle of a child can uplift the world with the lines). Pointing out the sagacity of a woman, the Sant descirbes ‘Tethe sarasataa anubhavaa aalee, chaaturya lakhshane adhik disalee, Mahilaanmaajee,’ added Kannan.

Dr Jyoti Prakash Naik, Retired Head of Department, Sanskrit, Adarsh Mahavidyalaya, Dhamangaon (Rly), explains how Sant Tukadoji Maharaj spoke on foresight of women as they are determined to face challenges day-in and day-out for her family in lines, ‘prasang paahoni awadhaan, Pudheel kaalaache anusandhaan, striyaanche thayee’. Dr Jayshree Sanjay Satokar, Head of Department, Marathi, Pragati Mahila Kala Mahavidyalaya, Bhandara, opined that realising the importance of providing education to girls, Rashtrasant mentions ‘Mahilaanche uchchatama shikshana, shikhshanaat asaave jeevanaache sthana, Jeewanaat asaave swaarasya poorna, shaanti, dayaadee bhawanaanche,’- (women should be provided higher education.

They should be given proper status and respectful place in life. The spirit of patience and kindness in their life should be maintained.) Dr Satokar, one of the members of women’s wing of Shrigurudeo Seva Mandal, Bhandara, mentioned that the Mandal was conducting counseling programmes parents from rural areas on the need for education to girls by quoting Sant’s words ‘Mulaanpareech mulinnaa shikawaave, Tyaanche sthaan maan nehamee asaave, sahakaariteche’, meaning girls should be provided excellent education alike boys. Her status in the society and respect given to her should always depend on the principle of co-operation.

Anup Satone, a staunch follower of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj from Nagpur, shared the vision of Maharaj in maintaining healthy relationship between boys and girls by pointing out the lines from ‘Gram Geeta’ that ‘Stree-purushaanchyaa vikrut kalpana, Bhramavitee parasparaanchyaa manaa,| Yaa saathee waadhawaava bandhu-bhagini panaa, yogya sambandhe’- indicated that it is possible, the distorted and impaired concepts and wrong ideas about the relation between male and female in their minds may create illusion. Therefore, it is better to nurture a relation of brother-sister between them through proper companionship.

Satone also mentioned in the words of Tukadoji that ‘Shikhshanaat asheech karaavee vyawasthaa,Na hoyeel parasparaanchi anaasthaa, Yaa drushtine shikawoni samastaa, valan dyaave naitikateche’- these lines explain that the same procedure should be followed while making arrangements for the education of male and female. They will not neglect each other. For this, you have to provide both of them moral education about ethical and virtueous character. Dr Shobha Belkhode who hails from Wardha and works at Sane Guruji College, Kinwat, mentioned that Sant Tukadoji Maharaj supports co-education and the Sant explains that ‘Mhanoni sahashikhshanahi naahee waavooge,Jaree naitik bhaava raahatee jaage, Shikhshanee jaagrutee thewane sarvaange, Kaam netyaa vadilaanche.

(“Therefore co-education should be provided. The co-education can imbibe the ethical values and morale.This is the work of leaders and fathers,)” added Dr Belkhode. It is a great feeling to go through the chapter of ‘Mahilonnati’ of Gram Geeta that speaks volumes about empowerment of women. But, it is true that women’s upliftment is in her actions and in her own hands. In Tukadoji Maharaj‘s words ‘shewatee uddhaarahi tichyaach haatee, ase tiyechaa’.