Re: Why Purdah is considered as a sign of backwardness?
I thought Purdah was of Persian origin. They were supposedly famous for seclusion of women between the 4 walls. Not all cultural practices are a good thing. It may be time to change them. The origin of Ghoongat in hindu women of a part of India where it was followed is murky. Some say it came with Islamic invaders, some say it was interaction with pre-Islamic persions that the regions closer to Persia like Rajasthan etc adopted them. Even ghoonghat before the Islamic invasions of India were practiced by the royal and noble women and never the working class or peasants. That changed with the invasions. As for South India, it has never ever been a practice. An interesting article about purda/ghoonghat…GOSHAENUR: The Veil as Ghunghat & Purdah - a Hindu & Muslim dress
but again why Purdah is considered as second name of seclusion and detention, when we all have observed ladies following purda getting education, doing jobs.