Indian Women witnessed zenith in ancient India.One subject has got be accepted at the very outset – akin to the contentious topic of Aryan invasion in India, several other issues have been raising storms from time to time and one of these happens to be the position of women in ancient India. If we take the anecdotes of Leftist schools of thought in conjunction with the western world into account, the formal emancipation took place or did initiate with the dissolution of shockingly repellent Sati Pratha in 1829, thanks to Raja Ram Mohan Roy and initiatives of the then British authority. Is it true? Were Indian women, prior to the same, especially in ancient India, subservient to the whims of patriarchal society only? Only one thing can be stated in retort to the same – this theory is not acceptable in any manner. The same notion does generate a series of misgivings, getting stronger with the passing of each day almost. There is hardly any doubt that the struggle or endeavor of Raja Ram Mohan Roy with regard to the disbanding of SatiDaha was gallant and does deserve all credit. But there are certain shortcomings in this theory too. The name of one person is never stated and he is none other than Mrityunjay Vidyalankar (a highly revered scholar and pundit of Fort William College, Calcutta). He was highly proficient in both Bengali and Sanskrit, and his assistance was sought by Raja to prove the struggle for disbanding SatiDaha from the Hindu society once and one for all. Vidyalankar, did prove after meticulous researches, Hindu Dharma was not at all in favor of SatiDaha and in certain situations the practice was completely ant-religion. Doesn’t this prove ancient India had high regards for freedom of women? Truly speaking, an assortment of anecdotes can be cited to ascertain the extent of freedom enjoyed by women in ancient India. Scholars, in profusion, if truth be told, believe that women in ancient India used to take pleasure in equal status with men and in all spheres of society. More and more findings, thanks to the application of technology, are fortifying the strength of this contingent. If you are still skeptical, it is essential for you to go through works of Katyayana and Patanjali, widely acclaimed grammarians of ancient India. In accordance with these two men of letters, women were also educated in the ancient or early Vedic period par excellence. What do RigVedic verses state in that case? As per the verses of this most sacrosanct scripture, women used to get married at a mature age and also used to enjoy the freedom to opt for their husbands. Even Upanishad states with conviction of a great number of women seers and sages o those days. The most prominent of them were surely Maitreyi and Gargi. With the exception of this historical records and also anecdotes confirm, more than a few kingdoms (numerous to be counted) in ancient India used to retain traditions like nagarvadhu or bride of the city. Women, in short, use to compete wholeheartedly to attain the desirable title of the nagarvadhu. Thus was the position of Indian women in ancient India, suffered a decline in the later Vedic period with the introduction of Manu Smritis (Manuscripts ). Nevertheless, this even did reach the nadir on account of a millennium-old Islamic rule in the length and breadth of India
Indian Women during the ancient times were considered at par with men and this is evident from our rich history. A woman like Gargee, who was a philosopher as well as great mathematician, was the first woman to debate with men. She was considered as a great scholar of India. The status of Indian women in the ancient times was high as compared to today.
Indian society in ancient time did not differentiate between male and female and women were given equal status as that of men. Indian Women were thoroughly respected and were given equal status even in the courts of the king. There are several such examples of Indian women in ancient times, who were great scholars, fighters etc.
