[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958) › c8.20 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.20 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.20 - **Language:** English ### [c8.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.20) This tendency to quote ancient scriptures in support of modern reforms can be well summed up in the words of R. G. Bhandarkar (1895): "In ancient times girls were married after they had attained maturity, now they must be married before; widow marriage was in practice, now it has entirely gone out. ... Interdining among the castes was not prohibited, now the numberless castes...cannot have intercommunication of that nature."³ - [Previous: c8.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.19) - [Next: c8.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.21) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.20) · Pramāṇa