Question

Write a short note on
condition of women during
ancient times?

Answer 1

Dear Student,
the question needs to be reframed as "condition of women during middle ages". It is being answered as such:

The position of women in India during the 17th and 18th century had declined considerably. There were few very important indicators for this such as :
a) Child marriage had become the norm, this meant that girls were denied even basic education.Polygamy was also common amongst the affluent.
b) The purdah system was practised in almost all the communities. This severely restricted the movement of women and they had to depend on the men folk for everything that was outside their home. The practice of 'Jouhar' and 'Sati' was encouraged otherwise the widows were looked down upon.
c) The condition of women even in England was very bad. Most did domestic work or worked as unskilled workers as farm labour and later in factories.
In India Raja Ram Mohan Roy was one of the earliest to recognise the evils of 'Sati' and it was largely because of his efforts that the Bengal Sati Regulation Act 1829, was passed. He also encouraged education of girl children. other reformers who worked for the social improvement of women were Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Mahadev Govind Ranade etc.

Regards