1.7. Women Slaves, Sati and Labourers

Travellers who left written accounts were generally men who were interested in and sometimes intrigued by the condition of women in the subcontinent. Sometimes they took social inequities for granted as a “natural” state of affairs.

Many of the travellers who documented their experiences in the subcontinent were male. Their writings sometimes reflected a curiosity about women's roles and conditions but also an acceptance of social inequalities as normal. This perspective meant that their accounts might lack depth regarding women's everyday lives and the nuances of their experiences, as they often viewed women through the lens of their own cultural biases.

Imagine a modern film that portrays a culture from the director’s perspective without showing how life appears to people living in that culture. Just as the film might miss out significant details and perspectives of local lives, male travellers in history often missed understanding the depth of women's experiences during their travels.

For instance, slaves were openly sold in markets, like any other commodity, and were regularly exchanged as gifts. When Ibn Battuta reached Sind he purchased “horses, camels and slaves” as gifts for Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

The practice of slavery was prevalent in the subcontinent, with slaves being traded like property or goods. This commodification dehumanized individuals and captured the harsh realities that many faced. Ibn Battuta, a notable traveller, even recorded instances of him buying slaves as gifts, which illustrates how normalized this practice was at the time.

Think of a marketplace today where you might see items for sale. In this historical context, people, particularly women and children, were also available for purchase, not unlike tents or animals—this gives a stark view of how culture treated humane dignity at that time.

Some female slaves in the service of the Sultan were experts in music and dance, and Ibn Battuta enjoyed their performance at the wedding of the Sultan’s sister. Female slaves were also employed by the Sultan to keep a watch on his nobles.

Female slaves often occupied roles that involved entertainment and servitude, showcasing their abilities in music and dance. These performances were not only for entertainment but also served political purposes, reinforcing the status of the Sultan. This dual role of entertainment and surveillance reflects the complex realities slaves faced, where some had skills that allowed them to gain favor, while others lived under oppressive conditions.

Think of today's entertainment industry where some performers might be celebrated and revered while others remain unpaid or exploited. In the same way, while some female slaves showcased their talents and gained attention, the broader context still surrounded a struggle for agency and recognition.

Bernier chose the practice of sati for detailed description. He noted that while some women seemed to embrace death cheerfully, others were forced to die.

The practice of sati, where widows would self-immolate on their husband’s funeral pyre, drew significant attention from European travellers like Bernier. He documented varying reactions among women, with some appearing willing while others were clearly coerced. This variance highlights the complex social pressures and norms surrounding women’s lives and deaths during that time.

Imagine a situation where a certain tradition is viewed as honorable by some but as oppressive by others. Just as individuals might react differently to societal pressures in modern contexts, so too did women during the practice of sati, reflecting their diverse experiences amidst overwhelming societal expectations.

However, women’s lives revolved around much else besides the practice of sati. Their labour was crucial in both agricultural and non-agricultural production. Women from merchant families participated in commercial activities, sometimes even taking mercantile disputes to the court of law.

Women played vital roles in various sectors of the economy, contributing not only in households but also in industries and commerce. Their participation in economic activities suggests that they were more active in public life than traditional narratives often convey, showcasing their importance in sustaining both local and broader economies.

Consider how women today balance their duties between home and work, often running small businesses or farms. Just like modern women, those in historical contexts were not just passive figures but active participants in community economies, often shaping local markets and economies.

You may have noticed that travellers’ accounts provide us with a tantalizing glimpse of the lives of men and women during these centuries. However, their observations were often shaped by the contexts from which they came. At the same time, there were many aspects of social life that these travellers did not notice.

While the accounts from male travellers give some insight into the social lives of women, these narratives are inevitably biased by their perspectives. Many everyday experiences and vital roles played by women and lower classes might go unrecorded in these accounts, obscuring the full tapestry of life during that time.

It’s similar to reading a history book on a culture from an outsider's perspective. Just as the author’s backgrounds shape their portrayal, so too do the traveller’s biases limit the representation of women’s diverse experiences and realities.

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