Widows in India: Study of Varanasi and Vrindavan

Book Details

• Author: Bindeshwar Pathak

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2016

• ISBN: 9788131607725

• Pages: 232

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book

This heart-wrenching book on widows in contemporary India delves into the material and emotional deprivation experienced by these women, focusing particularly on the oppressive forms of renunciation imposed on widows living in Varanasi and Vrindavan. The book is written from the perspective of suffering widows, questioning the exclusivity of the renunciatory life prescribed by the Hindu Dharmashastras.

It presents a compelling argument that these women need social security for material survival, as they have long been subjected to humiliation, neglect, and exploitation. Despite India's constitutional provisions for equal rights, many widows continue to endure suffering due to societal inequalities and the persistence of orthodoxy, obscurantism, and superstitious beliefs.

The book explores the socio-cultural and economic challenges that widows face, shedding light on their cruel frustrations and the deprivations that hinder their social, economic, and cultural lives. It questions how widowhood affects their social life, investigates the attitudes of others towards them, and explores their self-image.

The study suggests measures for the state, civil society organizations, and the public to adopt, aiming to reorient the mindset of widows and help them take life into their own hands, rather than being passive recipients of charity.

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Status of Widows in India

3. Socio-Cultural Profile of Universe

4. Research Methodology

5. Social Reform Movements

6. Conditions of Widows and Social Change

7. Social Security and Rehabilitation

8. Conclusion and Recommendations

About the Author

Bindeshwar Pathak is the Founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, renowned worldwide for his work in improving the lives of scavenging untouchables, widows, and other marginalized groups. His invention of Sulabh toilet technology has earned international recognition as one of the best global practices for safe human waste disposal.

Dr. Pathak has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan (1991), the Stockholm Water Prize (2009), and the WHO Public Health Champion Award (2016), among others. He is listed among the Top 50 Diversity Figures by The Economist and has received various humanitarian awards, including the 2016 Humanitarian Award from the New York Global Leaders Dialogue.

Satyendra Tripathi is a social scientist who has worked with Sulabh International and held prominent academic positions. His expertise lies in social change and development, particularly in developing countries.