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Q5. What can we learn from early Indian society about varna and the role of women?
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Varna: Early Vedic texts do not indicate fixed social status strictly based on birth. Occupations remained flexible and mobile, although over time the four varnas came to be associated with particular roles and tasks and this flexibility gradually reduced. Later, jati also emerged as a distinct social structure.
Women: The Vedic period is often described as a time when women held a high and respectful position. Women participated in learning, rituals and social gatherings, and several Rigveda hymns are traditionally attributed to women sages such as Apala, Vishvavara, Ghosha and Lopamudra.
Over time, women's position and roles fluctuated and even declined, but women continued to contribute to household management, agriculture, crafts, religious practices, literature, governance and patronage. Examples in the chapter include Prabhavati Gupta, Avvaiyar and Sembiyan Mahadevi.
