POPULAR RELIGIOUS LITERATURE IN INDIA: DECREEING POLITY WITH ENSLAVED WOMEN
We proudly claim that India is the world's largest democracy. Going by the numbers, the assertion is correct and there are also theoretical reasons for advancing this claim. The Preamble and chapters on Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles of State Policy make it clear that the Constitution of the Indian Republic guarantees justice, liberty equality to all its citizens irrespective of gender, caste, race, religion, class and place of birth. In terms of gender equality, the Preamble, Articles 14, 15, 16, 21, 23 (Part III dealing with Fundamental Rights), 39, 42, 44 (Part IV dealing with Directive Principles of State Policy) and 51-A (e) (Part IVA dealing with Fundamental Duties) not only give women all the rights accorded to men, but also provides them with special rights.
Sadly enough, there is an immense mismatch between these pious declarations and the status of women at the ground level in India. In global terms, the Indian Republic has the largest number of malnourished women; the highest number of maternal deaths and as well as the record for 'missing girls', who number in the millions. Violence against women–which includes 'honour killings', domestic violence and sexual harassment, is rampant despite the occasional stringent dose of laws to control violence against women.[i]
The shocking state of affairs is further underlined by the latest National Family Health Survey-III for which 1.25 lakh women were interviewed in 28 Indian States during 2005-6. According to this survey 40% of women reported being beaten by their husbands. Over 51% of the 75,000 men interviewed did not find anything wrong with bashing up their wives. The most shocking finding of this survey was that around 54% of the women surveyed believed that such violence inflicted on them was justified on one ground or the other.[ii]
The extent of women‘s insecurity in India can be known by the number of incidents of rape and the conviction rate during 2006-2008 as provided by the National Crime Record Bureau.[iii] These statistics show that the number of rape cases steadfastly increased while the conviction rate fell continuously. However, even this data may not reflect the critical ground reality as RK Raghavan, a much decorated policeman and ex-chief of the CBI commented that this data
"Is a gross underestimation. A majority of rapes occurring in villages are suppressed by local bigwigs who run their parallel criminal justice system…Our Caste system and the role of money in the rural setting are principal contributors to this state of affairs."[iv]
Any student or researcher will be hard pressed to find an explanation for this mismatch. Despite comprehensive laws and the huge machinery of enforcement in place, the Indian Republic is becoming a risky terrain for women in India. There is no denying the fact that Indian democracy is becoming less and less compatible with the rights of women.
This repression flourishes unabated due to a structural belief that women are inferior, backward and the object of denigration. The philosophical mooring regarding the inferior status of women has been spread and strengthened by popular religious literature available in every corner of India. In this paper an attempt has been made to study and investigate the multi-lingual popular religious literature being circulated throughout India. While this study is confined to Hindu and Muslim popular religious literature, it does represent an accurate reflection of the general reality. According to 2001 national census data Hindus and Muslim together constituted 93.9% of the total Indian population. This freely available literature openly denigrates women and preaches violence against them. This paper provides facts and analysis to show how despite a democracy in India women becoming more and more vulnerable and democracy are becoming out of bound for them.
It is interesting to note that flag bearers of the purity of these two religions; Hinduism and Islam, despite serious theological/normative differences with each other, hold absolutely identical views on the status of women. This similarity is most glaring in the low-priced religious propaganda literature circulated by them in every nook and corner of India (Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal being no exceptions) which openly demean and denigrate women.
WAY TO SWARG (PARADISE) FOR HINDU WOMEN
Geeta Press based in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, leads this tribe. It publishes literature espousing the 'Hindu' way of life for women on a very large scale.[v] The low-priced publications are available throughout the country, especially in the Hindi belt, and are even sold through government allotted stalls at railway stations and government roadways stands.
Geeta Press has published more than a dozen titles on the subject, the most prominent of which are: Nari Shiksha (Education of Women) by Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Grahsth Mein Kaise Rahen by Swami Ramsukhdas[vi], Striyon ke Liye Kartawya Shiksha (Education of Duties for Women) and Nari Dharm (Religion of Woman) by Jai Dayal Goindka and a special issue of magazine Kalyan[vii] on women.
The authors extensively quote from ancient texts like Shiva Purana[viii] and Manusmriti.[ix] They borrow heavily from these and other 'holy‘ texts and uphold a subservient wife as the ideal Hindu woman. For instance in the book titled How to Lead a Household Life which is in question-answer format, when a question is posed, 'What should the wife do if her husband beats her and troubles her?”[x] Swami Ramsukhdas offers the following sagely advice to the battered wife and her parents:
"The wife should think that she is paying her debt of her previous life and thus her sins are being destroyed and she is becoming pure. When her parents come to know this, they can take her to their own house because they have not given their daughter to face this sort of bad behaviour."[xi]
And if her parents do not take her to their house, learned Swamiji‘s pious advice is:
"Under such circumstances…she should reap the fruit of her past actions. She should patiently bear the beatings of her husband with patience. By bearing them she will be free from her sins and it is possible that her husband may start loving her."[xii]
Swamiji who has no qualms about thrashing of wives by husbands is otherwise quite compassionate towards animals. While responding to the question: "What dealings should a person have with rats, lizards, mosquitoes and bugs etc., which live in the house?”[xiii] His sagely advice is to be merciful towards these creatures and Swamiji wants no harm done to them. He decrees that
"A man should regard these creatures as the members of the family because they live in it by making their home. So they are entitled to live in it. It means that they should be nourished as far as possible…It is not proper on the part of the people to kill them as some people do."[xiv]
And there is another piece of heavenly advice for a rape victim and her husband.
"As far as possible, it is better for woman (rape victim) to keep mum. If her husband also comes to know of it, he too should keep mum. It is profitable for both of them to keep quiet."[xv]
Can a woman remarry? The answer is very straight forward, "When once a girl is given away in marriage as charity by her parents, she does not remain virgin any more. So how can she be offered as charity to anyone else? It is beastliness to remarry her."[xvi]
But can a man remarry? No problem,
"A man can have a second wife for an issue in order to be free from the debt which he owes to manes (pitr-rin) according to the ordinances of the scriptures, if there is no issue from the first wife."[xvii]
But this is not the only reason for which a man is allowed re-marriage. A man,
"Whose desire for pleasure has not been wiped out, can get remarried because if he does not get remarried, he will indulge in adultery and go to prostitutes and will incur a badly sin. Therefore, in order to escape the sin and maintain the decorum he should get remarried according to the ordinance of scriptures."[xviii]
Of course, no widow is allowed to remarry. However, she may be allowed to choose to be some male's concubine.
"If she cannot maintain her character, instead of indulging in adultery here and there, she should accept her affinity for a person and live under his protection."[xix]
Is it proper for woman to demand equal rights? The sagely answer is very unambiguous:
"No, it is not proper. In fact, a woman has not the right of equality with man…in fact it is ignorance or folly which impels a woman to have desire for the right of equality with man. A wise person is he/she who is satisfied with less rights and more duties."[xx]
This literature about Hindu women openly preaches and glorifies the ghastly practice of Sati. To the question:
"Is 'Sati Partha‘ (viz., the tradition of the wife being cremated with the dead body of the husband on the funeral pyre) proper or improper?”[xxi]
The sagely answer is:
"A wife's cremation with the dead body of her husband on the funeral pyre is not a tradition. She, in whose mind truth and enthusiasm come, burns even without fire and she does not suffer any pain while she burns. This is not a tradition that she should do so, but this is her truth, righteousness and faith in scriptural decorum…It means that it is not a tradition. It is her own religious enthusiasm. On this topic Prabhudatta Brahmachariji has written a book whose title is Cremation of a Wife with her Husband’s Dead Body is the Backbone of Hindu Religion, it should be studied.[xxii]
Swamis in this series of literature while demanding the restoration of practice of Sati go on to tell us that
"There is absolutely no doubt that a woman who happily follows her dead husband to the cremation ground receives on every step benefits of Ashawmedh Yagya…It is a Sati woman who snatches her husband from the hands of yamdoots (angels of death) and takes him to swarglok (Paradise). After seeing this pativrata lady the yamdoots themselves run away."[xxiii]
It is not only Nari Shiksha which starts with a chapter captioned Sati Mahatmmey or 'greatness of Sati‘ but Gita Press also published a special issue of its Hindi journal Kalyan glorifying Sati. Apart from glorifying Sati, the Gita Press publications like Nari Dharm[xxiv] produces dozens of shlokas from Hindu scriptures to establish that women are not capable of enjoying independence. This book begins with the chapter swatantarta ke liye striyon ki ayogeta (incapability of women for independence). Another notable facet of this literature is that long a list of rituals is laid down to be practiced by pregnant women so that 'bright, talented, brave and religious inclined son' is born.[xxv]
WAY TO JANNAT (PARADISE) FOR MUSLIM WOMEN
There is no dearth of such literature for Muslim women too in the Republic of India.[xxvi] Bookshops selling Islamic literature are packed with books and pamphlets brazenly denigrating women. Titles like Bahishtee Zewar, (Heavenly Ornaments) in Urdu by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi, Mian Biwi ke Haqooq (Rights of husbands and wives) by Mufti Abdul Ghani and Musalman Biwi (Muslim Wife) by Molvi Idris Ansari,and Biwi ke Haqooq aur Uski Hesiyat (Wife‘s rights and her status) by Mufti Mohammed Taqui describes "women as property of men which can be used as they wish.” Their advice to Muslim women is "to treat yourself as a slave and accept your husband as your master. Even if you are battered, tolerate it patiently and graciously.”
Bahishtee Zewar, the most popular of these has the following prescriptions for Muslim women,
"If husband orders that remove all stones from one mountain to second one and stones of the second mountain to third one, wife must do it."
It is ordained that when husband demands presence of wife she should immediately come even if she is cooking on fire.
"If husband wants to have sex with his wife and if wife refuses and husband passes night in such a situation then angels curse this lady throughout the night."
Follow all directives (Uske aankh ke ishare per chala karo) of husband. If he orders that you must stand with hands folded throughout the night you must do it so that get rewards in the next life.
If your husband declares that day is night, you must say the same.[xxvii] Mufti Abdul Ghani confides that in the Hell, a majority will comprise of women who disobeyed their husbands.[xxviii] He also reveals that "If a husband is angry with wife, her prayers are not honoured by God and she is not admitted into Paradise.” Molvi Idris exhorts Muslim women that "if your husband describe the day as night you must accept it.”
All the authors give unqualified authority to husband to beat their wives. For instance Mufti Abdul Ghani in his book even has a chapter titled "Right to batter women” where he writes that "husband has the authority to beat his wife. He may even use miswak (a kind of small stick which is used for teeth cleaning) to beat her. However, he should avoid hitting on face or causing deep scar.”[xxix] Face seems to be decreed out of bound from husband's thrashing due to the reason that wife then would look ugly!
The similarities between Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists on the issue are so stark that it appears as if they subscribe to the same school of thought or have studied under the same teacher. Both groups may be involved in ferocious tussle in the Indian subcontinent, but when it comes to the status of women, they seem to be operating in total harmony. Against women, it is unity in totality.
It is really shocking that in the largest democracy of the world, India, where rulers never tire of preaching about peaceful coexistence and equality, such blatantly anti-women and obnoxiously sexist literature is in circulation in a big way. India is a signatory to the UN Charter of Human Rights and Declaration on Women but the Government has done little to curb the publication of such writings.
The Indian Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code which are frequently invoked to ban rationalist or progressive writings have been reduced to mere spectators to the onslaught by such literature on women. The Indian judiciary too, which is very fond of intervening into issues of public interests, finds nothing objectionable in this dehumanizing propaganda under the garb of religious propaganda.
Ironical as it may seem, the above publications of Geeta Press can be bought from government allotted rent-free stalls at bus stands, railway stations[xxx] and book vendors or mobile vans that often sell their ware even in the premises of the Supreme Court and Central Secretariat in New Delhi from where the Democratic India is governed.
Shamsul Islam
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[i] According to a study (in which more than 1.58 lakh births that took place in India between 1985 and 2005 were examined) jointly conducted by Harvard School of Public Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, Boston University School of Public Health and National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (Mumbai) and published in January 2011 issue of the journal 'Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine', spousal violence against wives increased the risk of death among girl children. To quote lead author of the report, Jay Silverman, "Being born a girl into a family in India in which your mother is abused makes it significantly less likely that you will survive early childhood". Cited in The Times of India, Delhi, January 7, 2011, pp. 1 & 14.
[ii] Cited in The Times of India, New Delhi, January 7, 2011, p. 14
[iii] 2006: Rapes 19348, conviction rate 27.2%. 2007: Rapes 20737, conviction rate 26.4%. 2008: Rapes 21467, conviction rate 26.6%.
[iv] R. K. Raghavan, 'Rose Garden Predators', Outlook, Delhi, August 3, 2009, p. 42.
[v] Some of the prominent titles in Hindi are as follows:
Goendka, Jaidayal, Nari Dharm, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2000. [It is priced Rs. 2. According to the information provided in the booklet it was first published in 1938 and till 2000 it had 54 editions with 11, 20, 250 copies printed].
Goendka, Jaidayal, Strion Ke Liye Qartavey Shiksha, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2000. [It is priced Rs. 5. According to the information provided in the booklet it was first published in 1954 and till 2000 it had 45 editions with 10, 25,000 copies printed ].
Nari Ank, Kalyan, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 1948.
Poddar, Hanumanprasad (ed.), Bhakt Nari, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2002. [It is priced Rs. 4. According to the information provided in the booklet it was first published in 1931 and till 2002 it had 39 editions with 4, 62,000 copies printed].
Poddar, Hanumanprasad, Dampateya Jiwan Ka Adarsh, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2002. [It is priced Rs. 7. According to the information provided in the booklet it was first published in 1991 and till 2002 it had 17 editions with 1, 81,000 copies printed].
Poddar, Hanumanprasad, Nari Shiksha, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2000. [It is priced Rs. 7. According to the information provided in the booklet it was first published in 1953 and till 2002 it had 40 editions with 8,14,000 copies printed].
Ramsukhdass, Swami, Grahast Maen Kese Rahen, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2004. [It is priced Rs. 6. According to the information provided in the booklet it was first published in 1990. Till 2004 it had 37 editions with 9,30,000 copies printed].
Ramsukhdass, Swami, How to Lead a Household Life, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2001. [It is priced Rs. 3. According to the information provided in the booklet it was first published in 1990. Till 1999 it had 6 editions with 55,000 copies printed].
Ramsukhdass, Swami, Prashnouttarmanimala, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2001. [It is priced Rs. 7. According to the information provided in the booklet it was first published in 2001 and within that year had 5 editions. Till 2002 it had 6 editions with 10, 0000 copies printed].
[vi] It is also available in English under the title, How to Lead a Household Life. According to Gita Press sources it is the most sought after book by the Hindu NRIs in USA, Europe and South East Asia.
[vii] Nari Ank of 1948.
[viii] Shiv Puran is one of the most significant Purans. Its public narration (path/parvachan) mainly takes place for women audience. It has an exclusive chapter (24th) titled 'stri-savbhav varnan' meaning 'description of the nature of woman' and thus defines women:
'Strion se adhik papi koi naheen. Striyan papon kee jad haen, aisa tum jano.' (There is no sinner greater than women. You must understand that women are the root of sins)—Shloka 16.
'Aag lakrion ko jalakar, samudr nadion ko pakar aur Yamraj sabhi paranion ko pakar jaise parsann ya tript nahin hote, vaise hee striyan purshon ko pakar tript nahi hoteen.' (The way fire after burning wood, sea after getting rivers and Yamraj after securing all beings are not satisfied, likewise women are not satisfied with men)—–Shloka 29.
'…sabhi striyon maen yeh ek rahasya chipa hae kee purshon ko dekhte hee unki yoni geelee ho jati hae.' (All women are afflicted with this one mystery that after seeing a man their cunt gets wet)'—Shloka 30.
'Kaal, Mrityu, pataal, badwanal, chure kee dhaar, poison, sarp tatha aag—yeh ek oor aur ek oor stri—yeh sab brabar haen.' (Destruction, death, degeneration, fire, edge of dagger, poison, cobra—all these on one side and women on the other side—are same)—Shloka 34.
'…Brahma ney …jahan se stri-prush ka nirman kiya, wahan se striyon ko sadaa dosh yukt hee banaya.‘ (From the time Brhama created woman-man, women were always made full of faults) —Shloka 36.
For more details see Tripathi, Brahmanand (tr.), Shri Shiv Mahapuran, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan, Delhi, 1995, pp. 706-770.
[ix] Manusmriti or Codes of Manu decree the following treatment to women:
I. By a girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house. (V/147)
II. In childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead to her sons; a woman must never be independent. (V/148)
III. Day and night woman must be kept in dependence by the males (of) their (families), and, if they attach themselves to sensual enjoyments, they must be kept under one‘s control. (IX/2)
IV. Her father protects (her) in childhood, her husband protects (her) in youth, and her sons protect (her) in old age; a woman is never fit for independence. (IX/3)
V. Women must particularly be guarded against evil inclinations, however trifling (they may appear); for, if they are not guarded, they will bring sorrow on two families. (IX/5)
VI. Considering that the highest duty of all castes, even weak husbands (must) strive to guard their wives. (IX/6)
VII. He who carefully guards his wife, preserves (the purity of) his offspring, virtuous conduct, his family, himself, and his (means of acquiring) merit. (IX/7)
VIII. As the male is to whom a wife cleaves, even so is the son whom she brings forth; let him therefore carefully guard his wife, in order to keep his offspring pure. (IX/9)
IX. No man can completely guard women by force; but they can be guarded by the employment of the (following) expedients:
X. Let the (husband) employ his (wife) in the collection and expenditure of his wealth, in keeping (everything) clean, in (the fulfilment of) religious duties, in the preparation of his food, and in looking after the household utensils. (IX/10, 11)
XI. Women, confined in the house under trustworthy and obedient servants, are not (well) guarded; but those who of their own accord keep guard over themselves, are well guarded. (IX/12)
XII. Women do not care for beauty, nor is their attention fixed on age; (thinking), ‗(It is enough that) he is a man,‘ they give themselves to the handsome and to the ugly. (IX/14)
XIII. Through their passion for men, through their mutable temper, through their natural heartlessness, they become disloyal towards their husbands, however carefully they may be guarded in this (world). (IX/15)
XIV. Knowing their disposition, which the Lord of creatures laid in them at the creation, to be such, (every) man should most strenuously exert himself to guard them. (IX/16)
XV. (When creating them) Manu allotted to women (a love of their) bed, (of their) seat and (of) ornament, impure desires, wrath, dishonesty, malice, and bad conduct. (IX/17)
XVI. For women no (sacramental) rite (is performed) with sacred texts, thus the law is settled; women (who are) destitute of strength and destitute of (the knowledge of) Vedic texts, (are as impure as) falsehood (itself), that is a fixed rule. (IX/18)
This selection of Manu‘s Codes is from F. Max Muller, Laws of Manu (Delhi: LP Publications, 1996; first published in 1886). The German Indologist Max Muller had Manusmriti translated as the Laws of Manu which was first published in 1886 under the series, The Sacred Books of the East. There have been other international editions in different languages of Europe of this book. It has been translated into almost all languages of India. The bracket after each code incorporates number of chapter/number of code as per the above edition.
It may be interesting to note that the philosopher and guide of Hindutva, VD Savarkar and RSS always demanded Manusmriti which denigrates not only women but also Dalits to be promulgated as the constitution of India.
According to Savarkar, "Manusmriti is that scripture which is most worship-able after Vedas for our Hindu Nation and which from ancient times has become the basis of our culture-customs, thought and practice. This book for centuries has codified the spiritual and divine march of our nation. Even today the rules which are followed by crores of Hindus in their lives and practice are based on Manusmriti. Today Manusmriti is Hindu Law." [VD Savarkar, 'Women in Manusmriti' in Savarkar Samagar (collection of Savarkar‘s writings in Hindi) vol.IV, Prabhat, Delhi, 2000, p. 416.]
When the Constituent Assembly of India had finalized the Constitution of India RSS was not happy. Its organ complained, "But in our constitution there is no mention of the unique constitutional development in ancient Bharat. Manu's Laws were written long before Lycurgus of Sparta or Solon of Persia. To this day his laws as enunciated in the Manusmriti excite the admiration of the world and elicit spontaneous obedience and conformity. But to our constitutional pundits that means nothing. [Organiser, Delhi, November 30, 1949, p. 3.]
It is to be noted here that a copy of Manusmriti was burnt in the presence of Dr. Ambedkar during Mahad agitation on December 25, 1927. This day is commemorated as Manusmriti Dahan Din (Manusmriti Burning Day) by Dalits.
[x] Ramsukhdass, Swami, How to Lead a Household Life, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2001, p. 43.
[xi] Ibid.
[xii] Ibid.
[xiii] Ibid, p. 22.
[xiv] Ibid.
[xv] Ramsukhdass, Swami, Grahast Maen Kese Rahen, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2004, p. 88.
[xvi] How to Lead a Household Life, p. 47.
[xvii] Ibid, p. 45.
[xviii] Ibid, p. 46.
[xix] Ibid, 47. Interestingly, this advice is missing in the Hindi version of the book.
[xx] Ibid, p. 48.
[xxi] Ibid, p. 36.
[xxii] Ibid.
[xxiii] Poddar, Hanumanprasad, Nari Shiksha, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2000, p. 2.
[xxiv] This book starts with the chapter 'swatantarta ke liye striyon ki ayogeta' (incapability of women for independence). For more such sermons see, Goendka, Jaidayal, Nari Dharm, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2000.
[xxv] Nari Shiksha, p. 30.
[xxvi] Some of the titles on Muslim Women are as follows:
Al-Asemeen, Mohammadul Saleh (translated by Hafiz Abdul Rashid Azhar), Purdah, Al-Dar-ul-Salfiya, Mumbai, 1998. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 15. Copies printed 1000].
Alyahaya, Yahaya Tayyaba (translated from Arabic by Mohd. Khalid Azmi), Muslim Aurat Aur Uski Zimmedarian, Cuddapah Islamic Welfare Society, Cuddapah: Andhra Pradesh, 2000. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 13 and 5000 copies printed. The original booklet is in Arabic authored by a Kuwait based woman].
Ansari, Kaneez Fatima, Dasturul Amal, Star Book Depot, Meerut, nd. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 5. it has been authored by a woman].
Ansari, Mohammed Idris, Musalman Biwi, Jasim Book Depot, Delhi, nd. [It is in Hindi priced Rs. 12].
Ansari, Mohammed Idris, Musalman Biwi, Markazi Idarah Tabligh-e-Deeniyat, Delhi, nd. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 10].
Ansari, Mohammed Idris, Musalman Biwi, Taj Book Centre, Delhi, nd. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 12].
Ghani, Abdul (Maulana Mufti), Mian Biwi ke Huqquq, Jasim Book Depot, Delhi, nd. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 5].
Ibrahim, Mohammad (Maulana), Tohfatun Nikah Yaani Nikah Ka Tohfa, Farid Book Depot, Delhi, nd. [It is in Hindi priced Rs. 15].
Khairabadi, Mayal, Islami Riyasat Maen Aurat Ke Haqqoq, New Crescent Publishing Company, Delhi, 1996. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 7 and copies printed 1100. Importantly, it is a booklet which quotes Quran and Hadis to establish that women should not be bashed up, should be provided maintenance, property rights, right to life and equality and they have right to perform namaz in mosques].
Nadvi, Mukhtar Ahmad (Maulana), Kiya Musalman Aurat Ka Masjid Maen Aana Fitna Hae, Al-Dar-ul-Salfiya, Mumbai, 1998. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 10. Copies printed 1000. Interestingly, this booklet presents a strong case for Muslim women to go to mosques by quoting Quran and Hadis].
Qadri, Syed Ahmad Urooj, Adab-e-Azduwaj, Maktaba Islami Publishers, Delhi, 2000 (second edition). [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 6. Interestingly the copyright of this booklet is with ‗Human Welfare Trust (Regd.)‘ and last edition print order was 1000 copies].
Rauf, Abdul (Mufti), Chey Gunahgar Auraten, Fani Book Depot, Delhi, nd. [It is in Hindi priced Rs. 8].
Thanvi, Ashraf Ali (Maulana), Bacchon Ka Bahishtee Zewar, World Islamic Publications, Delhi.1989. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 10].
Thanvi, Ashraf Ali (Maulana), Bahishtee Zewar, Farid Book Depot, Delhi, 1914. [This book literally meaning ‗Heavenly Ornaments‘ is in Urdu consisting of 768 pages has dozens of editions. It is the most sought after book after Quran and in many parts of the Indian sub-continent is an integral part of the dowry of newly wed Muslim woman. It is available in many Indian languages. The print order for the present edition was 3100].
Thanvi, Ashraf Ali (Maulana), Islam Maen Purdah Kee Haqeeqat, Rabbani Book Depot, Delhi, nd. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 14].
Thanvi, Ashraf Ali (Maulana), Nek Biwi, Jasim Book Depot, Delhi. nd. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 10 in Urdu].
Usmani, Mohammed Taqi (Maulana), Biwi Ke Haqqoq Aur Uskee Haisiyat, Idar Ishaat-e-Diniyat, Delhi, 2003. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 18].
Usmani, Mohammed Taqi (Maulana), Shohar Ke Haqqoq Aur Uskee Haisiyat, Idar Ishaat-e-Diniyat, Delhi, 2002. [It is in Urdu priced Rs. 18].
[xxvii] Thanvi, Ashraf Ali (Maulana), Bahishtee Zewar, Farid Book Depot, Delhi, 1914. pp. 278-279.
[xxviii] Ghani, Abdul (Maulana Mufti), Mian Biwi ke Huqquq, Jasim Book Depot, Delhi, nd, p. 41.
[xxix] Ibid, p. 24.
[xxx] Gita Press book stalls provided by the Indian Railways network at the following major stations as per the Gita Press publications:
Ahmedabad, Asansol, Aurangabad, Bengaluru, Bharuch, Bhubaneswar, Bikaner, Chapra, Cuttak, Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin), Delhi (New), Delhi (Old), Dhanbad, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Haridwar, Howrah, Hubli, Indore, Jamnagar, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Kolkata, Kota, Lucknow, Mughalsarai, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Rajkot, Raipur, Rajgangapur, Ranchi, Rourkela, Samastipur, Sealdah, Seccundrabad, Sri SatyaSain Prashant Nilyam, Siwan, Vadodra, Varanasi, Vijawada, Yashwantpur etc.
Major bus stands like ISBT (Kashmiri Gate Bus Terminus, Delhi).
Minister of State Manoj Sinha replying to a question in Rajya Sabha on 08-08-2014 informed that Gita Press was allotted 45 stalls out of 165 allotted to social/religious organizations for putting on sale their publications at railway stations. Surprisingly, as per the details provided by minister the allotment seemed to be restricted to Hindu and Gandhian organizations.
[This write-up was earlier posted titled as " POPULAR RELIGIOUS LITERATURE: MAKING INDIAN DEMOCRACY INCOMPATIBLE WITH WOMEN’S RIGHTS". It is a revised version.]
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