Font Size 
Pratibha Patil unveils a controversy
Published on Mon, Jun 18, 2007 at 09:55, Updated on Fri, Jun 22, 2007 at 01:19 in India section
Tags: Presidential Elections, UPA , New Delhi
Related Stories
Photogallery
 |  |
New Delhi: The UPA-Left Presidential nominee Pratibha Patil courted controversy on Sunday by saying that the purdah (veil) system emerged in India to protect women from Mughal aggressors.
Patil’s remark, made at a function in Udaipur marking the 467th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap, has left historians and Muslim social activists astounded.
Patil said though Indian culture always respected women, the veil system began during the Mughal rule to “save women from Mughal invaders”.
“We had the concept of purdah to protect women from Mughal invaders. So, they stayed indoors and were veiled, ” Patil said.
“Today we are citizens of free India. There is need to put a stop to such practices. That alone will ensure real respect for women. When women are progressing in every field, it is our duty to discontinue such practices,” Patil added.
While historians said the veil system was prevalent much before the Mughal invasion, Muslim leaders from Rajasthan are angered and say it's unfortunate Patil chose to incorporate communal views in her address.
Varsha Joshi, a historian at the Institute of Development Studies said the purdah system existed in India much before the advent of Muslims.
"I think its absolutely wrong to say that the purdah system existed because of the Mughal invaders. It was prevalent before the Mughals came to india," she said.
Joshi also pointed out that there was evidence of the construction of a separate zenana (area for women) in the Chittorgarh fort in the 11th century.
"It would be right to say that the purdah was more an imitation rather than a strategy of defense," the historian said.
Meanwhile, Patil is campaigning hard, and has been busy meeting key leaders across the political spectrum to ensure a smooth win.
She met former prime minister and Jan Morcha leader V P Singh on Sunday.
Karan Singh, whose name was doing the rounds within the UPA before Patil was declared the consensus candidate, Union HRD minister Arjun Singh and Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee were the others that Patil called upon.
(With inputs from Agencies)
| Ads by Google |
| Related Ads: | |
Read Comment | Post Comment
Simply: She is showing off more than she should with the time!!!
Read Comment
Apart from large scale murder of Hindus and importing foreign religion, grabbing hindu women and trying to convert the local
Read Comment
No, Purdah had nothing to do with our culture.See any carving in any temple including Khajuraho or paintings in Ajanta
Read Comment
Hii, I really don't understand this whole comedy of Secularism , Fabricated history. when we talk about British and make
Read Comment
As per indian Constituion, only executive has the power to do what ever it wants.....and everything thing is done in
Read Comment
Read more comment »