Muskan Singla Week 3

 “Gendering Caste: Through a Feminist Lens” by Uma Chakravarti

Knowledge was limited to a particular caste, class and gender which was also a basis of discrimination in traditional India to such an extent that knowledge of other sections of the society was not even considered as knowledge. Uma Chakravarti uses examples of Shambuka, Eklavya and Gargi from Indian mythology to prove her point. They were denied education or were silenced because of their caste or their gender. Due to this, only a selected part of the community possessed the knowledge and the knowledge given by them was widely accepted.

When it came to women, the caste was never in question. Their sexuality was controlled irrespective of their class. Yajnavalkaya Smriti laid down the ‘rules’ of  qualities one should look for in a bride. Women weren’t allowed to marry outside their caste which rigidified the concept of ‘purity’ and ‘impurity’. This endogamy laid down the stones for ‘arranged’ marriage which is now a norm in India. These marriages were considered as an alliance and women were ‘exchanged’. The exchange was necessary to maintain one’s economic and social status and keep the bloodline ‘pure’. This can be summarized under the term 'brahmnical patriarchy'.