Explanation:
Muslim Women in Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Era
History of Muslim women particularly Mughal regime. The practice of purdah combined with women & they were generally considered culture & civilized. Mughal education of Muslim women limited to religious knowledge & early education of boys and girls began from Makatab/primary school and then Madrasas for more education but there was not adequate management for girls. Discrimination was because of being son’s preference in Indian male dominated society not of following the religious Islamic ritual. Early marriage was to be encouraged retaining the right to unilateral divorce. Oral divorce was more common than written without considering witness. Polygamy was also known & women in polygamous marriage live with the co-wives.
Iltutmish, the sultan of Delhi in 1211 CE. He went on appoint his daughter Raziya Sultan of Delhi, instead of his son. Raziya was the only one woman to ascend to the throne of Delhi by popular consent. Her reason and ascension is significant considering it took place in a society with rigid caste & gender hierarchies. She discarded the veil & appeared in public wearing, male dress. Such as several women in the Mughal royal family received private education: Babar's daughter Gulbadan Begum. Author of Humayun Namah was the first Mughal women to document the social realities of Mughal women. Zeb-un-nissa, Emperor Aurangzeb's eldest daughter was an eminent theologian and poet. Such as the ladies of Mughal's palace were proficient in both horsemanship and social etiquette and were also often astute politician and artists.
Gender inequality: As we know well, Indian society is a male dominated society. Gender discrimination issues are not of the present consideration but it had a great influence in the past too. One of the best evidence was Sati a bad habit to be practiced in past on the basis of gender. Apart from it, it has been in various forms such as dowry, preference of boys over girls, segregation from inherited property, marriage in early age etc. As being a part of Indian society, Muslim women faced all of them.
As the world was fighting, Indian society engaged also in another fight to ensure equal rights for every one without considering caste, religion, race and specially gender. One of the best examples is Sati against women. Indian reformers played a great role towards an evil practiced with widow after death of her husband even it was ensured as law in 1830.
In short, gender stereotypes have its deep route in Indian society and it could not be completely removed until the entire society rise against it and do their constant efforts.
Indian Muslim culture towards women at wedding ceremony in Indian society
Conclusion
In another way, we may say concluding about a society consisting of diversities enshrined in the Indian fabric, Muslim society could never to be separated from that perspective albeit having their own identities. It is noteworthy now to be discussed in a broad perspective which provides us a balanced chance of handling issues faced by Muslim society exclusively its half population -Muslim women. If modern society wants a sustainable development in any Democratic context then it would not be easy to see a light at the end of the tunnel without maintaining a whole development approach by furnishing its culture, education, and avoiding any kind of biases or prejudices etc. against any single sect of society especially gender in a way of going forward.
