English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

The classical Sanskrit texts composed in early India are one of the most celebrated texts from South Asia. The  Rāmāyaṇa , the  Mahābhārata , and the  Purāṇas  are an integral part of socio-cultural, and now political life of contemporary India. Texts composed in classical Sanskrit are assumed to represent an unblemished civilization, with a righteous rule and unadulterated social harmony; this is especially true about their afterlives as depicted in popular culture, cinema, and art. Often, during arguments about the safety of women in India calls are made for “going back to the ethos of ancient India culture”. This is done based on false beliefs about narratives presented in the classical Sanskrit text especially assumptions that women were “safer” in ancient India and that evils like rape, sexual assault and harassment of women did not exist. In contrast, this essay takes a closer look at the Sanskrit text, which not only narrates numerous stories of rape, but also considered rape a criminal offence.

“I Curse You on Her Behalf” Narratives of Sexual Assault from Sanskrit Literature