Description
The aim of this article is to define the miserable conditions of Muslim women in India under British rule, and their struggle to claim their rights from the government as well from patriarchal Indian society. The British government, the apparent champion of democracy and human rights, did nothing to improve the status of women in India. However, they tried to enforce Western norms and ideals, some of which were against the traditions and customs of India. The colonizers claimed to be morally progressive and cultured, asserting that they protected the rights of every citizen living in India and promoted equality, irrespective of sex. In this sense, many British rulers professed to be more civilized than Indians and more liberal in granting equal rights to women.