Bhartiya Bhasha, Siksha, Sahitya evam Shodh

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THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL INDIA

    1 Author(s):  DR. VIKRAM SINGH

Vol -  7, Issue- 7 ,         Page(s) : 13 - 20  (2016 ) DOI : https://doi.org/10.32804/BBSSES

Abstract

Dr. Vikram Singh* The present paper ‘The Position of Women in Medieval India’ deals with the status of the women in the Indian society during medieval era. The paper is in the extract form regarding the status of women in which the views of various historians are included. The status of women has a significant and an important place in India. Mr. Sudan states about the women’s status, that despite widespread use of the term “status of women” still does not have the same meaning for everyone involved in the development process. But though a common definition may elude us, we can all agree that in no country in the world do men and women enjoy equal status. Any society does not provide a higher status to women than men, or even provides higher priority in the total development scheme. The scholars opine that social, economic and demographic variables such as educational levels, economic activities and fertility patterns are linked to the status of women in the family and society. These also show the level of national development, despite their different value interactions in different sectors within a society and even more obvious differences over time are reflected.

  1.  Flender K. Sudan,  Status of women and Fertility decisions: A study in Rural-Urban context in Jammu District”, Journal of Social Anthropology, (Ed. R.M. Sarkar), Vol.1, No. 2, December 2004, New Delhi, p. 179.
  2.    K.M. Ashraf, Life and Condition of the People of Hinduism, 3rd Edition, 1988, pp.165-166; See Also: BrajadulalChattopadhayaya, The Making of Early Medieval India, New Delhi, 1999.
  3.  Ibid., 167-168 
  4.    A ,l. Srivastava, The Sultanate of Delhi (711-1526 A.D.),Agra, 1990, p. 48
  5.    M. P. Srivastava, Social and Cultural in Islamic India (1206-1719 A. D.), Allahabad, 1989, p. 22.
  6.   Ibid., Note: At the time, “The Sultanate ruled most of North  India for 300 years and by the early 15th century, there were independent Muslims Kingdom in Bengal, Gujrat and Central India…( on that occasion)  Hindus enjoyed the protected status. Islam usually only reserved for Christians and Jews;… The Hindu Vijayanagar Kingdom ruled large parts of South India and the Deccan plateau from 1336 to 1565, building temples vigorously. But it was finally defeated by coalition of Muslims sultanates from the Deccan. +”+ Let’s Go India & Nepal, Pub. Macmillan, London, 1998, pp.84-85.  
  7.  Kishori Saran Lal, Twlight of the Sultanate, New Delhi, 1980 p.269.
  8.  Ibid., p. 270
  9.   On that occasion, “Nor was the women’s labour Confined to domestic industry. India has been one of the few countries of the world where so much of the hard labour in building construction has been assigned to women. 16th century Mughal miniature show women breaking stones or bricks, sieving lime and carrying Mortar on their heads at building sites… Unluckily, we have few data about women’s remuneration. Either their work remained practically unpaid as at home, or heavily underpaid when it was done outside their homes. The general underestimation of the value of female labour is shown by the fact that whereas, under AlauddinKhaliji’s (1296-1316) price regulations, the prices “working men-slaves” was only from 5 to 12 tankas+”+cf.- Prof. Irfan Habib, “ Exploring Medieval Gender History,” Symosia papers:23, Indian History Congress, (60th) Diamond Jubilee session, Calicut, 2000, pp.2-3.   
  10.  Ishwari Prasad, A New History of India (From the earliest times to the present day) Allahabad, 1963, p.137.
  11.  Ibid., pp. 194, 203.
  12.   E. B. Havell ,The History of Aryan Rule in India From the earliest Times to the death of Akbar, pub, London,Ynm, p. 163. P. 308. Also see: Dr. Bhagat Singh, MadhKalin Bharat Dian Sansthavan, (in Punjabi), Patiala, 2003, pp.4-5.
  13.   Sher Singh, Philosophy of…., p.21. 
  14.  Daljit Singh, “The Position of Women in the Punjab during sixteenth and seventh centuries,” P.P.P., Vol. xxx11- part 1, April 2001, serial No. 63, Patiala, 2003, p. 4
  15.   K. M. Ashraf, Life and condition of the people of Hinduism, 3rd New Delhi, Edition, 1988, pp. 16, 166-167.
  16.   Cf.-Daljit Singh, op. cit., P.P.P., April 2001, pp. 49-50.
  17.  K.Singh, Indian Society and Social Institution, Lucknow, 2004, p. 179. 
  18.    Dr. Ishwari Prasad, op. cit., 116.
  19.    See in detail:  B. N. Lunia, Evolution of Indian Culture, Agra, 1970,  pp 374-378. On that occasion, Mr. Lunia wrote: “though the condition of women as a whole showed a marked deterioration due to the rigidity of the Pardah, Mughal period produced some notable women in India (e.g. Jahanara, Roshanara, Zebuunisa, Chand Bibi, Tara Bai, Nurjahan and JijaBai etc. of that time). … (But) infanticide, Child marriage and sati were very much in vogue among the Hindus. Polygamy was common feature of age.”
  20.  JagroopKaur, “ Challenges of Gender Equality in the New Millennium and Guru Granth Sahib,” P.P.P. Vol. xxxxvi- part 1, Serial No. 71, April 2005, P.62.
  21.  Ibid., pp. 62-63.
  22.  Sudarshan Singh, “The position of Punjab women- Social beliefs and practices (1849-1925), Punjab History Conference, 34th session, March 15-17, 2002, 2003, p. 278. 

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