Position of Women Down the Ages in India

The status of women in India has been progressing subject to the changes in the legislature over the past few years. From ancient time to present the promotion of equality for women by many reformers has been eventful in India and is also believed that women enjoyed equal status with men in all walks of life. From the words of patanjali and Katayana is believed that women were educated in the early Vedic period. Rig Veda elucidate that women got married at matured age and were free to choose their husbands. Scriptures of Rig Veda and Upanishad mention the existence of women sages and seers in those periods. It is also known from the great Tamil Literature Silapathikharam that Kannaki had instigated the king Pandian for justice. It is believed that women enjoyed equal status and rights even during the early Vedic period. Throughout the Vedic period women were given a status equal to men to participate in sacrificial rites, to undergo the investiture ceremony and to be man’s equal in upholding ‘dharma’. Vedic era has witnessed equal rights for women in the field of education, religion, politics, property and inheritance. However, later on approximately during 500 B. C, the status of women began to decline. Around sixth century, the practices of child marriages is believed to have started in India. The position of women in the society gradually weakened during the medieval period. It was considered the worst period in the history. During this period society had become patriarchal and men women difference was evident. Man-Woman role was decided on the basis of sex. Women were consigned inside the four walls of home. Later on Sati, child marriage and on widow remarriages became part of social life in India. In some part of India, the Devadasi or the temple women were sexually exploited. Polygamy was widely practised especially among Hindu Kashatriya rules. Queen Durgavati ruled for fifteen years before she lost her life in a battle with Mughal emperor Akbar’s gen