The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c17.s4.7

c17.s4.7

It is urgently necessary for Hindu society to change its angle of vision towards women, who have been criminally assaulted or who have temporarily gone astray owing to a mistake or duress. During the last one thousand years we have been very cruel to such women, and have, as a consequence, driven them either to a life of permanent sin and shame or to the folds of other proselyting religions. We must immediately bring ourselves in line with the enlightened viewpoint of our much maligned Smṛiti writers, who had recognised that the phrase, 'It is human to err,' was as much applicable to women as to men, and have recommended that women, who have been overpowered or misled, should be readmitted to their families and society after a suitable penance. Justice, fairplay and the interests of the community as a whole demand that we should try our best and enable such unfortunate women to start their life afresh in an honorable manner.