Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Empowering society” (March 8). During a debate in the Constituent Assembly, social activist Renuka Ray recognised the decadence and degradation of the position of women that gradually led to loss of their rights, both in law and in society. Nonetheless, with the first stirrings of consciousness amongst women, she argued, there never arose any narrow suffragist movement that had been common in many so-called enlightened nations. While it is imperative for the society to liberate the “prisoners of patriarchy”, affirmative action to user social and gender justice should go beyond creating walled gardens for women in the political space.