Gender Relations in Early India

Book Details

• Author: Vinita Chandra

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2010

• ISBN: 8131603792

• Pages: 344

• Cover: Hardcover

• Package Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches

About the Book

This insightful book challenges several prevalent myths regarding the historical role and perception of women in India. It critically examines the notion that women in early India were a homogeneous category and that the Dharmashastras, ancient texts on codes of conduct, are foundational documents that have tightly controlled the lives of women. The author argues against the idea that the Dharmashastras are representative of the entire Indian tradition, offering a nuanced understanding of gender relations that were diverse and region-specific across early India.

Vinita Chandra explores the evolution of gender roles through various historical lenses, asserting that gender dynamics in early India were not governed solely by the Dharmashastras. Instead, these texts were just one of many genres of literature produced in ancient India and should not be regarded as the only authoritative sources on women's roles in society. The book’s critical analysis highlights how gender relations manifested differently across various regions and cultures, offering a more complex and diverse view of women’s history in India.

This work offers a fresh perspective on the subject and serves as a valuable resource for those interested in the history of gender and the evolution of women's roles in Indian society.