What Does the New NCERT Textbook Reveal About Women's Status in Vedic Society?

Insights from the New NCERT Social Science Textbook

New Delhi: A recently published NCERT social science textbook has sparked discussions by incorporating a verse from the Manusmriti, suggesting that while women were respected during the Vedic era, their status experienced fluctuations and even decline due to evolving social and political landscapes.

This reference is found in the chapter titled 'State and Society up to 1000 CE', which portrays the Vedic period as one where women enjoyed a prominent and respected role in society.

The Manusmriti, an ancient Sanskrit scripture, delineates principles for ethical living, social hierarchies, and governance within Hinduism. It has been a focal point of controversy regarding its views on caste and gender.

The textbook highlights that women engaged in intellectual pursuits, participated in rituals alongside men in specific contexts, and attended public gatherings. Notably, several hymns from the Rig Veda are attributed to female sages like Apala, Visvavara, Ghosha, and Lopamudra. The text states, 'Where women are honored, there the gods rejoice; where they are not honored, all sacred rites become fruitless.'

Moreover, the textbook emphasizes that the status of women was not static.

It notes, 'Over time, the roles and positions of women varied, even declining as societal and political conditions shifted. Nevertheless, numerous examples exist of women actively contributing to household management, agriculture, crafts, and religious activities.'

Additionally, the textbook revisits the concepts of 'varna' and 'jati', asserting that social identity in early Vedic society was not exclusively determined by birth.

'Early Vedic texts do not suggest a fixed social status based on lineage. Instead, it is widely accepted that social identity was influenced by a variety of intricate and overlapping factors, including ethnicity, subgroup, regional ties, village connections, language, occupation, and particularly cultural relationships,' the chapter concludes.