[nukkad] Lamenting the state of women and the men ....

["Mahesh chandra gupta" <>]

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[nukkad] Lamenting the state of women and the men ....

Venugopal wrote:

The great law-giver for Hindus, Manu said thus: Na Stree Swathathryam
arhati. This is the last line of a 4 line sloka attributed to Manu. I don't remember the Sanskrit version of the first 3 lines. I remember the 4th one and strictly follow it! :)

The Sloka says that as a child the girl should be under the protection of her father, in youth under protection of her husband and in old age under the protection of her son. 4th line is Na stree swathathryam arhati meaning - women do not deserve freedom. 

As for inheritance, there were two schools of thought. One was Mitakshara and the second one was I-forgot-the-name. 

Where the law is silent, courts still rely on the conventions I think.
Perhaps Guptaji can enlighten us on this. 

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1. The sloka quoted is perfectly in order. Remember Kamala Das? She said the reason for embracing islam in her seventies/late sixties was that islam provides more protection to women. Her reason as given by her may be suspect, but the basic fact remains that women need and expect protection. Nothing wrong in that. That does not amount to subjugation of women or denial of independence to them. If my wife or daughter or sister need and expect my protection, there is nothing objectionable in it. That takes care of the first three lines of the sloka. The fourth line has to be interpreted in conformity with the theme of the first three. It might mean something like: “Thus, women are not really fully free/independent at any time and need support and protection from others. That is OK. 

2. The other school is called Dayabhaga school.

3. Where law is silent, custom is relied upon. Custom is well recognized as source of law.

MC Gupta
 



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