Dayalbagh Mahila Association: Spearheading a Social Revolution

Phylicia Rashad, the American actress, singer and stage director said, “Any time women come together with a collective intention, it's a powerful thing. … magic happens”.

Today’s post is about Dayalbagh Women coming together and making this magic happen,

Dayalbagh Women Spearheading a Social Revolution.

This post is by Prof. Nandita Satsangee and Prof. Sarla Paul from the Education Faculty of Dayalbagh Educational Institute, with inputs from Mrs. Asha Sinha, Secretary, Dayalbagh Mahila Association.

Read on...
Anurag
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The Professors write…

John Amos Comenius, a philosopher and a pedagogue of seventeenth century highlighting the importance of women in raising the future generations remarked that the first and the most lasting impression on a child comes from, “The school of mother’s knee”. The centrality of women in the society has been illustrated in the following lines of Revered Sir Anand Sarup, “It is really the women on whom rests the mental, moral and spiritual development of the coming generation… What motherhood can do for a nation is indeed indescribable! How fully human life becomes sweetened by the potency of maternal affection and how man’s nature is ennobled and purified by the impress of motherly love and devotion, cannot be adequately appreciated !.... That a society which metes out a shabby treatment or pays but stinted tribute of esteem and attention to its women folks, is doomed to a calamitous downfall. If man is the right limb of society, woman certainly is the left”.

The importance of women has been realised since ancient times. It is stated in Vedas that, “If you want to form a society that stands up the highest benchmarks of principles and nobility, accord highest glory to woman, and let her possess knowledge, dignity and leadership”. The society in Dayalbagh accords a unique status to women who are not only exemplary daughters, wives and mothers but also spearheading social transformation in an evolutionary manner. 

Dayalbagh Mahila (Women's) Association: Its origin and development from a historical perspective - All forms  the community services  rendered by womenfolk have been  organised under the flagship organisation of Dayalbagh Mahila Association. Soon after the foundation of the Dayalbagh colony, Mahila Association was constituted with various facets and wings to ensure their steady growth.

In world history, we find that the condition of women deteriorated during Medieval times, they were suppressed and forced to lead a restricted life within the four walls of their houses under the dominance of their men folk. In 1937 when the Industrial Revolution started, the women of Dayalbagh under the stewardship of Revered Mehta Ji took part in it with utmost zeal and fervour. They came out of their confinements in homes, discarding the rigid and superstitious bondages that were imposed upon them, organised themselves and started participating not only in multifarious skill - based activities like stitching, printing, embroidery work and selling the finished products through door to door service but also imparted education and knowledge to the illiterate and less privileged sisters of the community. That served as an initial bold step towards their becoming self-reliant.  The activities of Mahila Association from the day of its inception advanced with steady steps. In 1938, Mahila Stores and a Tailoring School was established.

Mass exercise programme and learning of self-defence skills including exercising with the Lathi (Bamboo Stick) started in 1940. Training on precautions to be taken against air attacks and that of providing first-aid services, training in production of hair oils, tooth powder, Surma powder for eyes, stuffed toys, woollen shawls and agricultural field work on extensive scale started in 1943. Hands-on experience in stitching, knitting, hosiery work, carpet making, etc. were started to make women economically independent. Participation in ‘Save Grain Campaign’, preparation of non-cereal food items, establishment of Play Centres for Toddlers belonging to age groups from 2 to 5 years under supervision of women, establishment of Women’s Club for solving social problems of women and cultivating literary, musical and dramatic skills helped them tremendously not only  in honing their talents but also in enhancing the quality of life of the entire community. 

In 1975, which was celebrated by UN as the International Women’s Year, the ladies of Dayalbagh participated and took part in jumble sales, preparation of  readymade garments, pickles, squashes, murabbas, chips  etc. A social revolution was initiated by the establishment of Vivah Sangam in 1976 for simplifying marriage ceremonies and arranging group marriages. Their other services included  offering shoe guard services to pilgrims and  providing coaching to weak children, To develop their reading interests a Women’s  Library was set up as a resource of recreational and informative  reading material  to women,  and later a children’s library also started  functioning independently  in 1993.

The Present Scenario:  

At present, in almost every new endeavour, women play an active role. They are part of the preparation of spices, pickles, squashes and other ready to cook food stuffs. Apart from these they are actively involved in internal security forces, educational enterprises and agricultural operations. The aim is to skill the womenfolk in tandem with government schemes, promoting entrepreneurship, specially, for the upliftment of weaker, illiterate and semi-literate sections of the society. At present, they are not simply confined to traditional feminine tasks but are also handling challenging tasks which are traditionally expected of male counterparts. It is the natural spirit of valour which has earned them the title of ‘Virangnas’ (brave women) by Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi. Their participation in chivalrous endeavours has not withdrawn them from their skill and expertise in household chores which is reflected in their preparation and serving tasteful, savoury and nutritious meals and snacks at cost price to pilgrims who frequent Dayalbagh to pursue their spiritual quest through the year.

Dayalbagh has large population of working women who do a fine balance between their profession and household responsibilities with the support services provided by other sisters who contribute by producing ready made fresh and grinded items, ready to cook mixes, sprouted grains, stitched clothes, knitted garments, Ilaichidana for Parshad etc. In return of their support services they generate a supplementary family income which promotes their standard of living. A feature of any value-based and progressive society is the care that it gives to the elderly and disabled members of the community. This role is executed in an exemplary fashion by the younger women volunteers of Dayalbagh with a sense of responsibility, and a spirit of service. Besides this they provide counselling services. Recently Acupressure service has also been started.

Barack Obama, former US President emphasised that, ‘The best judge of whether or not a country is going to develop is how it treats women.’ The Dayalbagh community, by its efforts in this direction will ensure its continued development.