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THE IDEAL OF INDIAN WOMANHOOD
our Spartan disciplinarian when Brahmans of blue riood took wives by the dozen, but left them with their parents to be visited periodically on the payment of an honorarium, preference being given to those who paid more for a night with he perambulating male prostitute ? Discipline or the sacredness of the marriage vow does not probibit a man to have several wives, on a variety of pretexts, some of which are positively immoral, even inhuman. If a woman fails to perform the duty of bearing children, then man may take a new wife. The unfortunate woman is degraded to the humiliating position of a houscholl servant for no fault of hers. She cannot possibly help her barrenness. Often, this is caused by discase or physical maladjustments which could be cured by proper medical treatinent. To have her so treater! is obviously the responsibility of the husband. Hinduism places not even such an clementary responsibility on him. He is allowed to acquire a fertile ficld, while retaining the possession of the barren onc. He is still entitled to use her sexually, for a change or as occasional pastime. That habit mounts to the practice of concubinage under the sacred institution of Hindu marriage. Yet, any criticism of this immoral institution is denounced as “loose talk ", even in these enlightened days, when educated people should be guided rather by reason than by authority It is not only immoral, but a crucl, inhuman
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