Status Of Women In Ancient Indian Society: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

The historical trajectory of women in ancient Indian society reveals a paradox of empowerment and decline. During the Vedic age, women were respected as philosophers, educators, and participants in religious rituals. They enjoyed access to education, inheritance, and decision-making. However, with the rise of rigid patriarchal norms, economic changes, and foreign invasions, their freedoms gradually declined. Practices such as child marriage, dowry, and purdah further restricted women’s autonomy. This paper critically examines the evolving status of women through doctrinal, literary, and historical sources, situating these within feminist theory and contemporary frameworks like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5. The study argues that reclaiming empowering traditions from India’s past can inform modern reforms aimed at gender equality.