Womb to tomb--a pathetic story of a woman in India

An effort has been made by the researcher to scan available current literature on the subject which covers dimensions like child marriage, widowhood and widow re-marriage, woman's property rights, dowry, marriage and marriage patterns, education of girl child, laws governing these aspects of social/cultural perspectives, female infanticide, female pregnancy termination (abortion), efforts of social workers to eradicate the traditional evils having bearing upon female rights relating to these dimensions, and so on. The researcher has felt that documentation of marriage patterns and their specificities has not been adequately done in India. This study is, therefore, an attempt to document the different variables accounting for changes in marriage patterns among the Jats (Hindus) and the Sikh Community in Rajasthan State of India. As credentials to the rituals and practices followed in the marriage of women, background information has been gathered and reproduced on all the aforementioned dimensions. The researcher has come to the conclusion that economic conditions as well as socio-cultural and religious practices were and are responsible for the subordinate status of women in India and also account for the illiteracy, child marriage and other derogatory practices affecting the life and living of women in India. It is believed that spread of education coupled with deliberate change in the male-mindset and extending democratic way of living would considerably ameliorate the conditions in which female role-set is presently conditioned. There is dire need of re-interpreting the scriptures to provide enabling directions for uplifting rather restoring female dignity.