Since its earliest articulations in the eighteenth century, the intellectual tradition and social movement of feminism has undergone profound transformation. This paper aims to conduct a thorough critical analysis of the concept of feminism, with the historical evolution of it through four waves and a study of its main theoretical strands namely liberal, radical, socialist, postmodern, ecofeminist and intersectional and mapping them in the context of the socio-political context of Indian and post colonial feminism. It is contended in the paper that feminisms are not a unified ideology but a pluralistic and continually developing project for equality, dignity and justice, which has to grapple with the intermingling structures of patriarchy, caste, class, race and colonialism. This is an analysis of current issues such as digital activism, elite feminism and internal exclusions, showing how the unfinished democratic project of feminism continues to grow in relevance in global and local fields.