Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s1.58

c7.s1.58

We consider this digression helpful in appreciating the exact character of the restrictions which were put on the intercourse of the two sexes. The underlying idea behind the institution of *Pardah* is the exclusion of *Na-mahrams* (or those who can legally marry) from each other. The fear always lurked in the minds of elderly patriarchs that people of opposite sexes outside the degrees of prohibition might go wrong through mutual contact, and it might further lead to their contracting a marriage tie independent of the will of the elders and perhaps prejudicial to the bigger interests of the joint family and the village community or the aristocratic family. We will speak of the morals and manners of the people of the age in a different place, but it may be noted here that much emphasis was put on the spotless moral character of a woman, and what was of still greater importance, the public reputation of a girl for chastity. This was identified in the long run with living in *Pardah* and inside the *haram*, that is, without any possibility of meeting a *Na-mahram*. Under the prevailing social conditions a husband was far from giving any liberty of social intercourse to his wife, and was most unlikely to marry one who had enjoyed such liberty, thereby damaging her moral reputation.¹