The Medieval period was extremely disappointing for Indian women, as their status deteriorated even further. Medieval India was not the age of women; rather, it was the 'dark age' for them. When foreign conquerors, such as Muslims, invaded India, they brought their own culture with them. Women were solely the property of their father, brother, or husband, and they had no free will. This way of thinking crept into the minds of Indians, and they began to treat their own women in the same way. In this article, we will discuss Women in the Medieval Period which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Status of Women in the Medieval Period

• The medieval time period saw significant changes in the lives of women.
• They were thought to be less than their male counterparts. The birth of a female child was not celebrated.
• In some communities, female foeticide and female infanticide were common practices.
• These are considered heinous practices, indicating that the birth of female children was not valued.
• Other practices like Sati, child marriage, and widows not being allowed to remarry represent women's deprived status.
• Girls were regarded as liabilities. They were trained in terms of carrying out household responsibilities and taking care of children.
• They were discouraged from attending school because it was assumed that they would not be able to put their educational qualifications, skills, and abilities to use in their marital homes.

Problems Faced by Women in the Medieval Period

Women faced a variety of issues that led to a decline in their status, including child marriage, the purdah system, Sati, Jauhar, and restrictions on girls' education.

Child Marriage

• Child marriage was common practice during the medieval period.
• The practice of child marriage was regarded as one of the major societal problems, as it prevented girls from participating in various tasks and activities that would help to improve their overall quality of life.
• Girls are required to hold the materials used in the preparation of meals, rather than books, since childhood.
• This was unfortunate and regarded as one of the major barriers to female advancement.

Purdah System

• Women were urged to stay in purdah (veil). They were supposed to cover their faces.
• They were not given the freedom to live their lives in accordance with their aspirations and wishes due to the prevalence of the purdah system.
• The purdah system represents the seclusion of women from public observation through the use of clothing as well as high-walled enclosures, screens, and curtains in homes.
• Purdah is a practice that originated in Persian culture and was adopted by Muslims during the Arab conquest of what is now Iraq in the seventh century AD.
• Purdah observance was strictly enforced and widely practised among the Muslim minority.

Sati

• Sati was the practice of burning widows alive on their husband's funeral pyres.
• According to ancient Hindu customs, the practice of Sati symbolised the end of a marriage.
• It is a voluntary act in which women accompany their husbands to the afterlife.
• The situation of widows had deteriorated in medieval times and they were forced to give up their lives on their husbands' funeral pyres.
• This practice resulted in the deaths of thousands of women.
• Even those women who aspired to live and did not want to give up their lives on their husbands' funeral pyres were forced to do Sati.

Jauhar

• The Hindu practice of mass self-immolation of women, or their execution by their husbands, fathers, or brothers, was known as Jauhar.
• During battles between Hindu Rajput kingdoms and Muslim armies, this practice was widely recognised.
• The primary goal of this practice is to avoid abuse and detention in the event of military defeat or capture.

Restriction on Female Education

• The girls were discouraged from going to school and obtaining an education.
• The reason for this is that they will not be able to obtain training in the implementation of various types of household responsibilities if they attend school.
• The parents thought that spending their financial resources on girls' education would be a waste, so they organised finances and saved for their daughters' marriages.

Practice of Devadasi

• Devadasis was a popular custom in Southern India.
• Girls were dedicated to temples in the name of gods and goddesses under this system.
• The girls were later dubbed "Devadasis," which means "servant of God."
• These Devadasis were supposed to live celibate lives.
• The grants made to the temples satisfied all of the needs of Devadasis.
• They used to spend their time in temples worshipping God and singing and dancing for him.

Some Prominent Women of Medieval Period

• Razia Sultana: During the Sultanate period, Razia Sultana succeeded her father, Iltutmish (1211-1236). She was the first Muslim woman to rule the country. Razia was a wise and effective administrator. She received training in fighting, army command, and administration.
• Qutluq Khanm Nigar: During his arduous campaign to reclaim his father's heritage, Babar's mother provided wise counsel to her son.
• Gulbadan Begum: Humayun Namah was written by Gulbadan Begum, a woman of exceptional poetic talent.
• Nur Jahan: Nur Jahan was an active participant in state affairs. She was India's greatest Muslim queen. She was the epitome of beauty and military valour.
• Chand bibi: Chandbibi, appeared on the ramparts of Ahmednagar's fort dressed in male attire and inspired the city's defenders against Akbar's powers.
• Tara Bai: Tara Bai, the Maratha heroine who was the life and soul of the Maratha resistance during Aurangazeb's final determined onslaught.
• Mangammal and Ahalya Bai Holkar: Mangammal, whose benign rule in the South is still a green memory, and Ahalya Bai Holkar, whose administrative genius Sir John Malcolm has lauded.

Conclusion

Women's social lives changed dramatically during the medieval period. Women's reliance on their husbands or other male relatives was prevalent during this time period. With no avenues for education, they effectively became the exploited class, with disastrous consequences for themselves and the nation. Another reason for the decline in women's status and freedom was the desire of the original Indians to protect their women folk from the barbarous Muslim invaders. Child marriage was another social evil prevalent during this time period.

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