Administrative System of the Marathas c20.s4: 7. Victims of Violence
Administrative System of the Marathas c20.s4
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7. Victims of Violence
c20.s4.1
The Hindus of Maharashtra in those days were more considerate towards the gentler sex than they are now, and the government always extended its support to the women in difficulties whenever necessary. The following case will perhaps make the orthodox leaders of the Hindu society gape in wonder. The original document was discovered in the house of the Dharmadhikari of Karhad by Mr. V. K. Rajwade, and has been published by Mr. Datto Vaman Potdar in the reports of the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal: "Sambhaji Angre Sarkhel informed with due salutations, all the good Brahmans well-versed in the Vedas and the Shastras and the Dharmadhikaris of Kasba Karhad that Savitri, wife of Purushottam Palsura, a resident of Dhopeshwar in Tarf Rajapur, was going to her mother's house in the village of Rayepatan. On the way she was violated by a Muhammadan, Malik Abdala. The woman returned to her house and related the incident to her people, and a written report of the case was thereupon sent to the headquarters at Vijayadurg. The Muhammadan was brought to the Huzur and decapitated. The woman however prayed that as she was violated by force and against her will and as the Saheb was the upholder of religion, some Prayashchitta should be prescribed for her so that she might conduct herself in the proper way. Thereupon it has been settled that she should perform Prayashchitta in the holy place of Karhad in the presence of the Brahmans and she should be then admitted to the right of dining with her caste people, and to other ordinary rights. Therefore this letter is addressed to you so that you may prescribe a Prayashchitta in accordance with the *Shastras* for the lady in order to admit her as before to the caste and the rights of the Brahmans and give her a letter for her caste people in Prant Rajapur." ¹⁹
c20.s4.2
¹⁹ Tritiya Sammelan Vritta, pp. 93-94.
c20.s4.3
Another document ²⁰ discovered by Mr. Rajwade and published by Mr. Potdar gives an account of a low caste woman who was simply attacked by an intending violator, but was rescued by a wayfarer. The woman although quite innocent and chaste was outcasted. On her taking a solemn oath about her innocence after the usual bath at one of the Sangams she was not only given a *shuddhapatra* or acknowledgment of her innocence but was also publicly honoured by government.
c20.s4.4
²⁰ Ibid, p. 97.
c20.s4.5
It is a pity that after a century and a half of western education we are still unprepared to show that sympathy for such unfortunate victims that the Peshwas readily extended to them under similar circumstances. The Peshwas compelled a reluctant husband to take back his deserted wife, through a sense of social duty, for restitution of conjugal rights could not be claimed by a Hindu wife.