Gandhi visualized a fundamental role for women as instruments of social change because they constituted the primary influence on the future citizens of the country and half the nation’s strength in terms of population. Gandhi’s unconscious guide in shaping his attitude to women was his mother, Putlibai, whom he deeply revered for her “saintliness”. His intellectual guide was the image of the ideal wife of Hindu literature, whom he describes as ardhangana, the better half, and sadadharmini, the helpmate. Women were slow to give up their traditions and customs because they were conservative, but for the same reason, they could discriminate better between the good and the bad in their heritage and cherish the good.