Widowhood in India

Abstract

The roots of practicing orthodox tradition of widowhood prescribed by ancient Indian religion is remote and deep rooted in the psychology of a large number of Indian people and even after 65 years of independence people are unable to denounce this inhuman practice. People belonging to rural areas, tribal community and so on observe this fatal phenomenon, which is related with female gender and consider the sufferer deprived from all rights to live or enjoy life further and thought of as dead persons. A huge number of such victims still ditched under the shadow of death and gloominess, discarded by their own kith and kin and lawfully separated from their own possessed affluence. According to the religious doctrine, it is pronounced that widows are destined to suffer according to their Karma (deeds) of previous birth, with this belief any scope of sympathy for widows gets diminished and they left abandoned for pre-destined torment. This catastrophic and heartrending state of Indian widows is discussed here elaborately and analytically, which is also throwing light on prejudice treatment particularly with women. Evidences still prevail in contemporary religio-social structure of India, which are the basis of narration.