2017-03-08 Wed

“There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of woman is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing.” – Swami Vivekananda

We all have studied that the basic unit of a society is family but don’t you agree that to sustain a family marriage plays a vital role? When two individuals vow to live their lives together to form a family, doesn’t it make you wonder how important the practice of marriage is? But is marriage only about men; what is the role of women in it, what is the importance of marriage for women or is it important to her at all? These are some of the questions and interpretations on practices in the institution of marriage that have been going on since primitive age but yet it is a part of a debate.

In the ‘Samhita’ of ‘Rig-Veda’ we get a reference to early institutions of marriage, the reference to ‘Dampati’ give a clear picture about it. Women in Vedic age were given equal position as men in education and status in society, she could even learn Vedas and could become ‘Brahmavadinis’( one who do not marry and perceive studies). Women like ‘Gargi Vachaknavi’, ’Vadava Pratitheyi’ and ‘Sulabha Maitreyi’ are well known.

In ancient time the concept of Swayamvar gave a choice to women to choose a partner or let the men have to prove his worth by passing the test, there are many e.g. in ‘Mahabharata’ and ‘Ramayana’ of this practice. But eventually this choice was taken away from women; the concept of marriage changed and the status of women declined.

In medieval period women were illiterate and were in restrictions. The practices of Sati, Child Marriage and ‘Purda-System’ came. But in the coming centuries, the status of women changed, many thinkers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Jotirao Phule, etc fought for the cause of women’s right.

Today there is no such field where women are not prosperous, but one has to understand that equality is not only about giving right to vote and educating, but also about accepting and understanding that women are humans first and just different than men. This doesn’t make them inferior but it makes it easy to run this world because where men lack women can fill that space with their different perspective, wisdom and experience.

To respect and appreciate the different colours of women’s nature India Post had issued these Commemorative stamps in 1980.

“Woman has suffered for eons, and that have given her infinite patience and perseverance.”

To know more about Indian bridle jeweller Click here