Question

Which one of the following constituted ‘Stridha' owned by women according to the Dharmashastras ?

• A. Grants of land from the king and Brahmas
• B. Gifts received at the time of marriage and from relatives
• C. Exchange of gifts by the families of the bride and the bridegroom
• D. Equal share of paterl property and assets

Hint:

Stridha = Woman's absolute property in ancient law. It was restricted to moveable wealth given as gifts during marriage or by relatives, distinct from immovable paterl real estate or institutiol land grants.
• Note: Husbands could not normally claim this property without the wife's consent.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Ancient legal manuals known as Dharmashastras and Dharmasutras laid down strict, patriarchal guidelines governing inheritance, social duties, and property ownership across early Indian society.

Step 1: Understanding ancient inheritance rights for women.
According to classical texts like the *Manusmriti*, women were generally denied a direct share in ancestral or paterl land and property, which was divided strictly among sons after the father's demise.

Step 2: Defining the exact ture of ‘Stridha'.
However, women retained legal ownership over a specific class of property known textually as Stridha (literally, "woman's property"). This legal pool was comprised of:
• Wealth, orments, garments, and artifacts presented to a woman at the time of her marriage ceremony (before the bridal fire and during the bridal procession).
• Gifts bestowed upon her as tokens of affection by her parents, her brother, her husband, or other immediate relatives.

Step 3: Assessing the options.
This specific bundle of property could be inherited by her children without her husband having an automatic claim over it. This matches perfectly with Option (B).