‘Women Must Not Be Confined to Identities of Daughter, Wife or Mother’: Rahul Gandhi Cites Manusmriti, Urges Youth To ‘Break the Cage’ (Video)

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday cited a passage from the Manusmriti to underline how society has long kept women in chains, urging the audience at the women-only edition of his student outreach programme in Pune to "break the cage." Addressing the gathering, Gandhi said he had come to listen to young people rather than lecture them or discuss politics.

'Have Come To Listen To The Youth': Rahul Gandhi

"I have come to listen to the youth, not to lecture or discuss politics," Rahul Gandhi said. The Congress leader went on to say that women should not be reduced to identities defined by their relationships with men.

"Women must not be confined to identities of daughter, wife, or mother," he said.

Rahul Gandhi’s Message to Young Women

Rahul Gandhi Calls Manusmriti Passage 'Shameful'

Rahul Gandhi then invoked the Manusmriti and, citing a passage from it, described its prescription that women remain under the authority of their fathers, husbands, and sons as "shameful." The Manusmriti, also known as the Laws of Manu, is an ancient Sanskrit text on legal and social duties in Hinduism.

"The Manusmriti says that, in childhood, a female belongs to her father. In youth, she belongs to her husband. When her lord is dead, she belongs to her sons. A woman must never be independent. This is a direct quote from the Manusmriti. These words are a shame because these words should never ever have been spoken," Rahul Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi Highlights Women’s Empowerment at 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' Event in Pune, Says ‘You Don’t Belong to Anyone Else, but Yourself’ (Videos).

Gandhi Outlines 'Three Forms Of Violence' Against Women

Rahul Gandhi also outlined what he described as three forms of violence faced by women: direct physical violence, financial violence, and violence stemming from lost opportunities.

"There are three types of violence. The first is direct violence," he said, citing figures on female foeticide, harassment, and physical and s*xual violence. How Rahul Gandhi Got FIR Registered in Pellet Gun Case After 8-Hour Protest - Video Details.

The Leader of Opposition said that around 4.5 lakh girls are killed every year, even before birth, in India, and that a large proportion of women face harassment in public spaces, educational institutions, and other settings. He also cited figures suggesting that 29-30 per cent of women face physical violence and six in every 100 face sexual violence.

"Fifty per cent of women forgo education or employment due to safety concerns and the threat of violence. They drop out of school or quit their jobs," he told the crowd.

Women Spend Extra INR 17,500 Annually On Safety: Gandhi

Gandhi described the financial consequences of women's concerns over safety as another form of violence, claiming that the average Indian woman spends an additional INR 17,500 annually on safety measures.

'Break The Cage', Gandhi Tells Youth

Calling on the audience to "break the cage," Rahul Gandhi urged young people to embrace their individuality.

"You are unique, you are special, you are an individual, and you have your own dream and vision," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2026 11:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).