(a) What are the main factors responsible for gender inequality in India? Discuss the contribution of Savitribai Phule in this regard. (b) ‘The current internet expansion has instilled a different set of cultural values which are often in conflict with traditional values.’ Discuss.

(a) Factors behind gender inequality and Savitribai Phule's contribution

Gender inequality in India stems from deep-rooted patriarchy, son preference, unequal access to education and health, economic dependence, restricted mobility and safety concerns, and under-representation in politics and leadership.

Savitribai Phule (1831–1897) struck at these roots. With Jyotirao Phule she opened one of India's first schools for girls in Pune in 1848 and became the country's first woman teacher. She championed education for girls and Dalits, campaigned against caste and untouchability, supported widow remarriage and opened a care home for pregnant widows (Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha). Her life shows that education is the surest lever against inequality.

(b) Internet-borne values in conflict with tradition

The internet has instilled values of individualism, instant gratification, global exposure and freer self-expression. These often clash with traditional emphasis on family, community, deference and privacy — seen in changing family structures, erosion of collective norms and generational friction. Yet the same connectivity also democratises knowledge, amplifies marginalised voices and enables movements for justice. The task is discernment, not wholesale acceptance or rejection.

Conclusion

Empowering figures like Savitribai Phule remind us that liberating values — whether against patriarchy or through technology — must be harnessed with wisdom to enrich, not fracture, society.