Abstract It is said that God created mothers because he could not be present everywhere. Often, examples are quoted from various scriptures, claiming to have given equal rights in social, cultural, political and educational spheres to all people regardless of sex, caste or creed. The history of women serves to highlight the ironies and contradictions of our society. The cultural heritage picture stands in contrast to the one at present, which reflects great variance between preaching and practice. Women’s suppression is rooted in the very fabric of Indian society - in traditions, in religious doctrine and practices, within the educational and legal systems, and within families. The position of middle-class women is changing owing to their newly found freedom to work. Over the last 150 years, novelists, whether male or female, have explored the psychology and social roles of women with increasing depth. More recently, the feminist movement has produced a more conscious depiction of the roles of women.