The Position of Women in Hinduism and Buddhism – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar [SUMMARY]

 

 01.What according to Dr. B.R.Ambedkar is the position of women in Hinduism and Buddhism?

The essay, ‘The Position of Women in Hinduism and Buddhism’ by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is a rejoinder to an article ‘Our New Republic’. The present essay was a reaction to an article published in ‘Eve’s Weekly’. Here, Ambedkar discusses the position of women in Hinduism and Buddhism. He feels that both the Hindu and Buddhist societies have produced great women.

The author of that article in ‘Eve’s Weekly’ opined that in India women were used to statecraft before in Europe. According to him The Ramayana and Mahabharatha are full of instances of such women. Sitha and Draupadi were to manage state affairs. But Ambedkar says that it was not true. Because they were deprived of their rights and put to the ordeal of life. Unfortunately, Draupadi was gambled by her five husbands. Sitha was banished into the jungle and put on the pyre to test her chastity.

Ambedkar compares and contrasts the position of Indian women with the Women of the west. He says that many of the western European women got an opportunity to meddle with statecraft. The women such as Queen Elizabeth with her political power and cunning craft executed her unfortunate lover Lord Essex. Empress Maria Theresa of Austria was an able ruler and also a loving mother.         Earlier, Empress Theodora of Byzantium, was a prostitute and rose to the power of an Empress.

Ambedkar says that women in Indian history such as Rani of Jhansi and Chand Bibi were in imminent position. Even in Buddhist society women were in a good position. The Buddhist sacred texts and teachings encourage women participation on par with men. Buddha, a broad minded sage was without prejudice and not against women. He laid foundations for the emancipation of women and granted sainthood for them as a man. Ambedkar gives an example of Buddha’s visit to a courtesan woman like Amrapali. In order to meet Amrapali at her rich residence Buddha had rejected the offer of princes to visit the palace. Later, Amarapali became one of Buddha’s praised female disciples. According to Buddha, Buddhist women were the first to contribute religious literature in India. The Hindu mythological women like Savitri, Maitreyi, Gargi and devoted women like Mirabai were in the hearts of Indian women. Thus, according to Ambedkar both Buddhism and Hinduism have contributed great women.

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