Twilight of the Sultanate c17.s5.2

c17.s5.2

Hindu law provides a fair if not a high position to women in society. Manū has said, "where women are not honoured, there cannot be a proper home".⁵⁴ Perhaps because of a woman's physical disabilities and old unwritten but practical custom, she was accorded a status of dependence on man.⁵⁵ Though there was no free mixing of sexes or universal education among women in Ancient India, foreign writers were struck by the freedom Indian women enjoyed. They freely participated in Yagyas, Court-ceremonial, fairs and even fought in battles.⁵⁶ Women could not only freely take to the study of art and literature, but were encouraged and recommended to do so.⁵⁷ The two centuries preceding the Muslim conquest saw poetesses like Indulēkhā, Mārulā, Morikā, Vijjikā, Shilā, Subhadrā, Padmashrī and Lakshmī.⁵⁸ Besides there were painters, dancers, mathematicians, etc. among women of high families.⁵⁹