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We have read that in olden days, women were treated very badly. They were forced to be confined within the four walls of house. They were not provided education. They had very little rights. Husbannds had full rights over wives but not vice-versa. Etc.
I agree that the above claims are true. But, by reading Ramayan, Mahabharat and other stories of ancient India, I feel that there was a time, when women were given high regards in society. Later, their situations worsened and once again, it started improving due to the efforts of Raja Ram Mohun Roy and other social activists.
Some may argue that Ramayan and Mahabharat are fictions. Whether these are fictions or realities or part fiction and part reality is another topic. But, even if these are fictions, still we have to accept that these tell us about the socities in those days. If these epics contained ideas contradictory to what society belived in those days, then these epics would never have become so popular.
Consider sati system, in which a woman died by burning in the funeral pyre of her husband. History tells us that women in India were foced to become sati even if they did not want to. But Dashrath's three wives did not become sati on Dashrath's death. Nobody forced them to become sati. Nobody treated them with contempt after their husband's death. They continued to enjoy the respect given to Rajmata. Pandu had two wives - Kunti and Madri. On Pandu's death, Kunti did not become sati but Madri became. However, it is to be noted that Madri was not forced to become sati. Kunti was given respect even after Pandu's death. Of course, she had to suffer hardships because of Kauravas but the reason was the enmity of Kauravas towards Pandavas and not at all because people wanted Kunti to become sati.
Consider swamvara. It allowed a girl to choose a husband of her choice. In some swyamvaras, the girl had full freedom to marry whoever she liked, e.g., in the swyamvara of Kunti, she chose to marry Pandu. In some swyamvaras, some condition was put and whoever fulfilled the condition married the girl. Examples: - In Sita's swyamvar, the condition was to string Shiv's bow and in Draupadi's swyamvara, the condition was to pierce a rotating fish's eye by seeing its reflection. But, here also, the condition was not forced on the girl. For example, in Draupadi's swayamvar, she said that she did not want to marry a sutaputra. Being able to choose a life partner of her choice was a very big power given to women.
Molesting a woman was considered a grave sin. Kauravas were wiped out because they molested Draupadi. Ravan was killed because he forcibly kept Sita in Ashok Vatika. Ravan was cursed by Nalkuber and Vedavati because he tried to force himself upon some women. This also amounts to great honour given to women.
Scriptures talk about many goddesses and they are given high regards. Almost each male god has a female counterpart and both are worshipped. There are even stories of treating girls as representing goddess Laxmi - a great honour indeed.
It is true that in majority of cases, women lived inside house and did not do outside work. But (except in some few cases), it was mostly the case because those women themselves enjoyed being inside house and not because they were treated as maid servants. Princesses mostly spent time inside palace. But they enjoyed their life. If they felt like to visit some place, then they could always go there with their friends and security. If a woman wanted to participate in assemblies, then she was allowed to do so. Gargi participated in many discussions and she was accepted by others as highly learned and she was respected accordingly. It was Gargi, who challenged Yajnavalkya. Even though, the majority of the participants were men, they allowed Gargi to ask questions. It was Gargi, who said that Yajnavalkya was indeed the most learned one in that assembly and others accepted her decision. Now-a-days, it is believed that if a woman works outside, then she is very modern and if she is a house-wife, then she is of backward thinking. I beg to disagree. It is important to note that women working inside house is not the same as ill-treating them but forcing them to work inside house is ill-treating them. There are some women, who like working outside and there are some women, who like being house-wives. Both should be allowed to exercise their choice. In ancient India, women mostly stayed inside house because they preferred to do so. It later happened that they were forced to be inside house even if they did not want to. Because of this, not working outside became a symbol of backwardness.
I agree that the above claims are true. But, by reading Ramayan, Mahabharat and other stories of ancient India, I feel that there was a time, when women were given high regards in society. Later, their situations worsened and once again, it started improving due to the efforts of Raja Ram Mohun Roy and other social activists.
Some may argue that Ramayan and Mahabharat are fictions. Whether these are fictions or realities or part fiction and part reality is another topic. But, even if these are fictions, still we have to accept that these tell us about the socities in those days. If these epics contained ideas contradictory to what society belived in those days, then these epics would never have become so popular.
Consider sati system, in which a woman died by burning in the funeral pyre of her husband. History tells us that women in India were foced to become sati even if they did not want to. But Dashrath's three wives did not become sati on Dashrath's death. Nobody forced them to become sati. Nobody treated them with contempt after their husband's death. They continued to enjoy the respect given to Rajmata. Pandu had two wives - Kunti and Madri. On Pandu's death, Kunti did not become sati but Madri became. However, it is to be noted that Madri was not forced to become sati. Kunti was given respect even after Pandu's death. Of course, she had to suffer hardships because of Kauravas but the reason was the enmity of Kauravas towards Pandavas and not at all because people wanted Kunti to become sati.
Consider swamvara. It allowed a girl to choose a husband of her choice. In some swyamvaras, the girl had full freedom to marry whoever she liked, e.g., in the swyamvara of Kunti, she chose to marry Pandu. In some swyamvaras, some condition was put and whoever fulfilled the condition married the girl. Examples: - In Sita's swyamvar, the condition was to string Shiv's bow and in Draupadi's swyamvara, the condition was to pierce a rotating fish's eye by seeing its reflection. But, here also, the condition was not forced on the girl. For example, in Draupadi's swayamvar, she said that she did not want to marry a sutaputra. Being able to choose a life partner of her choice was a very big power given to women.
Molesting a woman was considered a grave sin. Kauravas were wiped out because they molested Draupadi. Ravan was killed because he forcibly kept Sita in Ashok Vatika. Ravan was cursed by Nalkuber and Vedavati because he tried to force himself upon some women. This also amounts to great honour given to women.
Scriptures talk about many goddesses and they are given high regards. Almost each male god has a female counterpart and both are worshipped. There are even stories of treating girls as representing goddess Laxmi - a great honour indeed.
It is true that in majority of cases, women lived inside house and did not do outside work. But (except in some few cases), it was mostly the case because those women themselves enjoyed being inside house and not because they were treated as maid servants. Princesses mostly spent time inside palace. But they enjoyed their life. If they felt like to visit some place, then they could always go there with their friends and security. If a woman wanted to participate in assemblies, then she was allowed to do so. Gargi participated in many discussions and she was accepted by others as highly learned and she was respected accordingly. It was Gargi, who challenged Yajnavalkya. Even though, the majority of the participants were men, they allowed Gargi to ask questions. It was Gargi, who said that Yajnavalkya was indeed the most learned one in that assembly and others accepted her decision. Now-a-days, it is believed that if a woman works outside, then she is very modern and if she is a house-wife, then she is of backward thinking. I beg to disagree. It is important to note that women working inside house is not the same as ill-treating them but forcing them to work inside house is ill-treating them. There are some women, who like working outside and there are some women, who like being house-wives. Both should be allowed to exercise their choice. In ancient India, women mostly stayed inside house because they preferred to do so. It later happened that they were forced to be inside house even if they did not want to. Because of this, not working outside became a symbol of backwardness.
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