Medieval women as property holders
In medieval India, the role of women as property holders varied significantly depending on the region, religion, and social class.
Get the full solved assignment PDF of MHI-105 of 2024-25 session now by clicking on above button.
However, women’s property rights were generally more recognized and formalized in certain contexts:
- Inheritance and Dowry: Women, especially from the higher strata of society, could hold property through inheritance and dowry. In some regions, Hindu law permitted women to inherit property from their family. For instance, in the post-Gupta period, the right to inherit property was established through texts like the Manu Smriti which allowed daughters to inherit a share of their father’s estate, although this was often limited and conditional. Dowries provided to women at the time of marriage often became their personal property.
- Land Ownership: In the medieval period, women from aristocratic and royal families could own and manage land. This was particularly evident in cases where women ruled in their own right or acted as regents. The Maratha empire, for instance, saw women like Tarabai Chhatrapati who held significant power and property.
- Legal Frameworks: Islamic law, as practiced in the Mughal period, recognized women’s rights to property more formally. Muslim women had rights to inherit property from their parents and husbands according to Islamic inheritance laws. The Mughal rulers, like Akbar, implemented policies that ensured women could own and manage property, although the practical application often varied.
- Property Management: Women, particularly from the merchant or noble classes, sometimes managed substantial estates and businesses. However, their control over property was often mediated through male relatives or guardians, reflecting the patriarchal nature of medieval society.