Pratibha Patil, while calling for the end to Purdah system, a very laudable advice, also fell into the trap of popular perception that this system was introduced to protect the women from invading Mughals.

Purdah was introduced much before the Mughal armies invaded parts of India. In different religious communities this system was prevalent for various reasons, status, control over their lives, and domination over them.

Most of the armies irrespective of their religion have been committing atrocities on women and to single out Mughal armies for this is a half truth, more dangerous than a blatant lie. Even today the armies, including Indian one do the same.

These types of perceptions, all our ills are due to Mughal invasion, were begun by the British to demonize Muslim kings from whom they were wresting power and that's how the perceptions about temple destruction and conversion through sword were popularised.

Communal historiography and communal organizations picked up these and continue to propagate the same. This is also the way to 'externalize' the 'internal', problem. There is a section of communalists who baselessly put the blame of caste system and female foeticide on Mughal invasion.

We should realise that all the parts ruled by Mughals do not have the same purdah or female infanticide as it is prevalent in Rajasthan and neighbouring states. Its persistence has a lot to do with the persistence of feudal social relations and values, which need to be done away to rid the society of these evils of our society.

Prof. Ram Puniyani
Mumbai