The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c6.71

c6.71

Could women become economically independent as a result of their training? Those who followed the medical or the teaching line could of course become economically self-sufficient. The same was the case with singers and dancers. For ordinary women spinning and weaving afforded a good opening in times of difficulty. This was a very important and prosperous industry in India down to 1850 A. D. It was organised and conducted mainly as a cottage industry, and so it afforded good scope to women in financial distress. In early Buddhist literature ( *c.* 300 B. C. ), we come across ladies assuring their dying husbands that they need not worry about the financial future of their families¹; for they could earn the necessary income by spinning and weaving cotton and woollen yarn and piece-goods. The *Arthaśāstra* of Kauṭilya lays down that the state should provide special facilities to destitute women to enable them to earn a living by spinning². From medieval commentators we learn that spinning continued to be the mainstay of poor widows at that time as well³. It may be pointed out that cloth was much costlier in ancient and medieval India than what it is to-day; Indian fabrics were besides in great demand throughout the three continents down to the beginning of the last century¹. Women in distress, who resorted to spinning as a means of maintenance, had therefore ample scope for work and got fair wages.