Gender Inequality In Indu Sundaresan's The Twentieth Wife

A Woman’s Worth

When one speaks of women’s issues, the general reaction is that of frustration. It seems that the 21st century general society is already tired of hearing about the issues that women face even when approximately half the world’s population is female (UNPD, 2002). In Indu Sundaresan’s The Twentieth Wife, the topic pervasive of gender inequality is explored through Mehrunnisa’s life experiences. Mehrunnisa’s story gives insight into the situation and social status of women in 16th century India. Female children are trained to be good housewives from a young age. Women in general are restricted in their educational freedoms to reduce the validity of their opinions. A woman can only achieve the freedom to make her own decisions

When faced with the opportunity for her children to learn from a Hindu priest, Asmat, Mehrunnisa’s mother, began to worry that “[teaching] the girls too much [will cause them to] want of the outside world” (48). Although Asmat has good intentions, her wish to reduce Mehrunnisa and her sisters’ knowledge in order to reduce their desire ultimately results in the opposite as it causes Mehrunnisa to crave authority over others and additional knowledge. Mehrunnisa knows firsthand that her marriage dictates her power and luxuries for the rest of her life. “She was…married to a common soldier” which means she does not have the freedoms associated with being in the royal Zenana or marrying the Emperor as she wishes (79). Calling her future husband “common” also furthers the negative connotation she already associates with him as he would not be able to provide her with the power she yearns for. Even after becoming part of the Zenana, Mehrunnisa “realized that just being [there] was not enough” (324). The women in the Zenana had more power than those of working class husbands but within the palace walls, only those with direct relations with the emperor had ultimate control. Mehrunnisa grows up with the notion that a man is her only pathway to receive the influence that she desires as that is the information she is fed her entire

This is proved by the fact that Mehrunnisa’s parents worry that their daughters “will [never] find husbands if they are too [educated]” (48). During this time in Mughal ruled India, an educated woman is a symbol of arrogance and dominance which is undesirable as these women begin forming their own opinions instead of agreeing with their husbands. This society would rather her live in ignorance and complacency. Mehrunnisa’s mother continues to enforce her daughters’ training for married life by teaching them the skills needed to manage a household and be good wives such as “[learning] to paint, sew, embroider, and oversee the servants” (49). These are seen as essential for a woman to know as they will remain at home but men do not require this knowledge as they will other, typically regarded as more important, responsibilities. Men and women are given expectations to which they are expected to conform to before they are even old enough to make a choice about their future. Once women grow up and begin to have opinions, they are reprimanded by their husbands. Mehrunnisa’s first husband, Ali Quli, told her to “confine [her] interests to the house and the children [she] is supposed to have” simply because she gave him advice about politics (179). Mehrunnisa’s father is a respected man in the royal court and she spent a lot of time learning