From Swaraj To Stree Shakti: Reimagining Women’s Empowerment Through  Gandhian Thought

Golam Mortuja

From Swaraj To Stree Shakti: Reimagining Women’s Empowerment Through Gandhian Thought

Author(s)	Golam Mortuja
Country	India
Abstract	Women’s empowerment has emerged as a central concern in contemporary social, political, and developmental discourse. Despite significant progress in education, employment, and political participation, women continue to face persistent challenges such as gender discrimination, economic inequality, violence, and limited access to decision-making processes. This paper revisits Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy to explore its relevance in reimagining women’s empowerment in the twenty-first century. Gandhi viewed women not as passive beneficiaries of reform but as equal partners in the struggle for justice, social transformation, and national reconstruction. His concept of Swaraj extended beyond political independence to include self-rule, self-respect, moral autonomy, and social responsibility, providing a holistic framework for women’s empowerment. The study examines Gandhian principles such as truth (Satya), non-violence (Ahimsa), self-reliance (Swadeshi), constructive work, dignity of labour, and ethical leadership as foundations for strengthening women’s agency and participation. It argues that the transition from Swaraj to Stree Shakti represents a shift from external freedom to internal empowerment, where women become active agents of social, economic, and political change. Drawing upon historical examples of women’s participation in the Indian freedom movement and contemporary challenges related to gender justice, the paper highlights the continuing significance of Gandhian thought in promoting inclusive development, grassroots democracy, sustainable livelihoods, and gender equality. The paper adopts a qualitative and analytical approach based on the interpretation of Gandhian writings, secondary literature, and contemporary policy discourse. It concludes that Gandhian philosophy offers an ethical and human-centered alternative to purely economic models of empowerment by emphasizing character formation, community participation, equality, and non-violent social transformation. Reimagining women’s empowerment through Gandhian thought contributes to a more inclusive vision of development where Stree Shakti becomes an essential pillar of democratic Swaraj and sustainable social progress.
Keywords	Women’s Empowerment, Gender Equality, Social Justice and Constructive Programme etc.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-07-17

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CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

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From Swaraj To Stree Shakti: Reimagining Women’s Empowerment Through Gandhian Thought

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