Abstract The idea that the Rig Vedic period was a 'Golden Age' for women has been a topic of contention, of late. While the common narrative seconds this notion, a closer and critical probe of the Rig Vedic texts contradicts this century old conception. This paper argues that the Rig Vedic era, while offering privileges to a sectional group of women, actually portrayed a less idealized society for the rest. Mostly the women remained in the confinements of the patriarchal framework. Participation of women in public life was restricted and they had no room in the Vedic governance. This paper highlights that female empowerment in that age was, in reality, a myth. Although an elite group of women could transcend the societal norms, these evidences were exceptions and not universal. This paper also marks how women were circumscribed by a male dominated social hegemony and thus justly demands a critical reevaluation in both historical and educational discourse.
Asim Roy (Fri,) studied this question.