Indian epics subjugate women, reducing them to symbols of honor and chastity

The article criticizes the portrayal of women in Indian epics, particularly highlighting the subjugation and objectification of female characters. It argues that women were often reduced to symbols of honor and chastity, their lives dictated by patriarchal norms and the pursuit of male pleasure, as exemplified by the story of King Yayati. The piece suggests that these narratives, deeply rooted in Brahmanical traditions and texts like the Manusmriti, reinforced a system where women's autonomy was denied, and their suffering was often justified as karma.