Gender Relations in Early India

Details : 

Author : Vinita Chandra
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rawat Publications
Publication Date : 1 January 2011
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8131603792
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9788131603796
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 550 g

About the Book 

This book examines the existing myths regarding the historical views of women in India: (a) that women in early India were a homogenous category; (b) that the dharmauastras (ancient scripture on code of conduct) are the foundational documents of 'Hindu' way of life, responsible for tightening the noose around the lives of women in India; and (c) that the dharmauastras are the representative texts of Indian tradition, seeking to protect Indian women under specific historical circumstances. The book also argues that gender relations were shaped and manifested differently across different regions and cultures in early India, and that the dharmauastras may neither be considered as "foundational documents" nor can they be considered as "representative texts" of Indian tradition. The dharmauastras were only one of the many genres of literature produced in ancient India.