People of the Book | On the treatment of ancient, religious texts
The debates over what the Manusmriti or the Quran says about the roles ascribed to women could lead to different paths
Two ongoing debates highlight the double standards Indian progressives encounter. The primary question concerns the manner in which an ancient text should be interpreted and discussed in relation to contemporary society. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has made the complete rejection of the Manusmriti the central focus of his political agenda, emphasizing that it prescribes substandard roles for women.
In contrast, Keralam's Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar contends that the Quran prescribes a subordinate position for women in society, asserting, "The Holy Quran states that women should live confined within their homes and must not make public appearances." Despite the differing opinions, both interpretations emphasize the attribution of a specific meaning to two ancient texts - the Manusmriti, purportedly written between the 2nd century BCE and the 3rd century CE; and the Quran, traditionally dated between 610 CE and 632 CE.
Gandhi's association with the Manusmriti, embraced by many progressives, is condemned; conversely, Musliyar's endorsement of the Quran's perspective is applauded, particularly by the cleric.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
