Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s1.42

c7.s1.42

Thus the position remained somewhat as follows during the Muslim period :—the vast masses of peasant women did not wear any shrouds or specially made veil and did not live in seclusion; they moved the lapel of their *sari* or other head-dress slightly over their face when they passed a stranger; their arms and their face were otherwise quite exposed. The Indian peasant of our age could not afford to marry many wives and his wife usually had no rivals in her home. She was physically well built and morally strong and gave no cause for jealousy or undue care on the part of her husband. In short, a monogamous, healthy and free life is the only life a peasant has learnt to live in Hindustan.¹ The higher classes observe Pardah as far as their means allow them, for the women can dispense with domestic work. Pardah is a measure of respectability among higher classes so that the higher the rank, ‘the smaller and higher are windows and the more secluded the women’. ² It is needless to add that conditions in India are swiftly changing under the force of new circumstances.