Rahul Gandhi Says Women Belong to Themselves, Rejects Manusmriti’s View on Their Identity

PUNE, Aug 22: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said women should be recognised as individuals in their own right and not defined by their relationships with fathers, husbands or sons. He criticised the Manusmriti’s prescription placing women under the authority of male relatives at different stages of life, calling the idea shameful.

Addressing the Congress youth outreach programme ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Pune, Gandhi said women represent one of India’s greatest strengths, with millions bringing their own experiences, aspirations and ideas to the country’s future.

Referring to a passage attributed to the Manusmriti, Gandhi said it prescribed that a woman should remain under the authority of her father during childhood, her husband during adulthood and her sons after her husband’s death.

“These words are a shame. These words should not have been spoken,” Gandhi said while rejecting the notion that women should be dependent on male family members.

He emphasised that family relationships do not determine a woman’s identity.

“You belong to nobody, except yourself,” Gandhi said, adding that women may have relationships with their fathers, brothers, husbands and sons, but ultimately belong to themselves.

Gandhi said women should have the confidence to stand up for themselves and pursue their individual ambitions. He described women as one of the country’s most valuable assets and urged them to believe in their abilities.

The Congress leader said his visit to Pune was not intended as a conventional political address. Instead, he said, the programme was aimed at giving young people an opportunity to express their views, share ideas and discuss the issues that matter to them.

Urging youngsters to “break the cage”, Gandhi said every person has a distinct personality, vision and set of aspirations. He encouraged the audience to recognise their individuality rather than allow social expectations to restrict their choices.

Gandhi also argued that women are often viewed primarily through the roles they occupy within families. He said being a daughter, wife or mother was not wrong, but those relationships should not become the sole basis of a woman’s identity.

He pointed to women’s growing participation across professions, sports and other areas of public life as evidence of their diverse capabilities. However, he said their achievements are still frequently viewed through their connections to men.

Gandhi said India’s progress would depend on recognising and encouraging these individual journeys, allowing women to define themselves through their aspirations, work and contributions rather than inherited social roles.