The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c11.s1.3

c11.s1.3

There is no doubt whatsoever that the Purda was quite unknown down to about the beginning of the Christian era. In Indo-Iranian times women could move quite freely in society, and manage the family farms if necessary¹. The same was the case in the Vedic age. We have shown already how girls were often educated along with boys (*ante*, p. 16). We have also shown how love marriages would take place not infrequently, and how youths could approach their sweethearts to win their love, and how both would often go together to see shows and sports (*ante*, pp. 79-80). All this would not have been possible if the Purda system had been observed in society by maidens.