Women in Indian History

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the role that women have played in India and Indian history. According to the paper, recent studies that examined role portrayals of Indian women in magazine ads found that they are stereotypically portrayed as dependent upon men. The paper discusses how despite the stereotype that women in India were totally passive to their fate, there are many examples of women throughout India's history that present Indian women as strong and independent.

Outline:
Powerful Hindu Goddesses
Ganga and her Decent From Heaven
Durga's Victory over Mahisa
Kali- Victory over Raktabija
The Indian Epics
Mahabharata and Draupadi
The Vedic Period
Indian Women in Politics
Nur Jehan

From the Paper:

"Throughout Sita's speech in Book II, Chapter 27, we find an outspoken and independent Sita directly defying her husband's wishes as she insists on keeping her wifely vows, even though it will mean her banishment as well and possible death as well. She could have taken the choice offered by her husband and stayed with his brother in safety and out of harm's way. However, her insistence on keeping her vowels, even if it meant putting our life in danger, is an unparalleled act of bravery. She refuses to be seduced when held captive and eventually takes her own life after being continually rejected. This is not the act of a weak woman. The fact that she could speak so outright against are husband also shows her status as an equal rather than a subordinate. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ahmed, S. The Taj Mahal. History Today. Volume: 43. Publication Date: May 1993.
• Alston, A. (trans.) The Devotional Poems of Mirabai. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1980. n Mirabai Biography. <http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Religions/gurus/Mirabai.html> Accessed May 1, 2006.
• Ambekdar, B. in Rise And Fall Of Buddhist Nuns. Jamanadas, K. <http://www.ambedkar.org/jamanadas/RiseAnd.htm> Accessed May 2, 2006.
• Brinkgreve, F. Offerings to Durga and Pretiwi in Bali. Asian Folklore Studies. Volume: 56. Issue: 2. 1997.
• Cotterell, A. A Dictionary of World Mythology. Oxford University Press. Oxford. 1986.

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