Respect to women is the mark of the vedic culture. The pathetic condition of women in India that we see now and in a few generations before us(that of our grandmothers and a few generations before them) need not be understood as the condition that has been in vogue from since vedic times. From the descriptions of all types of literature, inscriptions and legends we can certainly infer that the economical and literary status of women was high in Indian women.(countless references can be cited to establish this)
Actually after repeated invasions and forceful conversions by brutal invaders, protecting the honour of women was the greatest need. This led to many sanctions upon their rights to education, social participation and marriage. Forced child marriage was the bitter fruit of this. Lack of modern smritikaras or lack of social concern on the part of the prevailing scholars has ended in bringing about no new rules or ammendments to bring back justice to the status of the women folk even ages after the onslaughts.
Just like the semitic traditions, even hindus began to treat the women like mere sex symbols or child bearing yantras. (Ofcourse this is completely against the vedantic spirit) Even religious theologies that sprung around this medieval time often called her kamini, mohini, maayaa, etc. Her role as janani was limited to cooking, atithya and baby care. Moulding the child's character, which was her prime role took a back seat because her own access to loftier concepts and lifestyles was curbed. Her participation in domestic and religious life became merely symbolical though. Lack of vedic education led her to rely upon only pouranic and regional religious practices (which are sometimes contradictory and concocted more on beliefs rather than wisdom. This made them easy prey to the arrogance of learned(?) men. Such men pioneered the cruel culture of snubbing women in all possible ways. This was unfortunately inherited as the 'tradition' by the generations that followed. The tragedy is that now nobody dares go back to the original culture and rectify these evil developments. The poeple who label themselves as traditional go telling about the nishedhas (dont do's) for women, and less of vidhis(do's). They may be desperate to maintain the snactity if the traditions. But no tradition can emain sacred, if its women are not given the right directions. It is high time we start producing women of high character, wisdom and insights so that glorius generations of great men and women can be produced in future. This can particularly be done by promoting the role of women to able 'builders of people' and not snubbing them to become weak and helpless parasites themselves.
Not reasons of all problems of women need to be imposed on men. At all times ego and cruelty has been a part of human mindset. There have arrogant and cruel behaviour on the parts of both men and women. An arrogant person finds every reason to hurt others. Not all men are hurting and not all women have been ill treated at all times. Lets be sensitive to this truth too.
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