The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c16.35

c16.35

The concern which a society feels for the welfare of its women is also shown by the rules that are laid down for the conqueror about the treatment of women captured in war. In early times these unfortunate women had very often to enter the harem of the conqueror, as is clearly shown by the recognition of the Rākshasa or Kshātra form of marriage. When Manu allows each soldier to retain such women as he may have himself captured, he is obviously referring to this old barbarous practice (VII, 70). Society's sense of morality and fairplay was getting refined, and it began to be felt in course of time that such barbarism should be no longer tolerated. We accordingly find social thinkers coming forward to declare that the conqueror ought to treat honorably all women captured in war, and set them at liberty. It was left for the Paurānic age to enunciate this liberal doctrine; we find it specifically advocated by the *Agnipurāṇa*¹. The great Shivaji was following this meritorious tradition when he honorably sent back to her relatives the beautiful wife of the commander of the fort of Kalyan, who was presented to him by his soldiers, who had taken her a captive.