Manusmriti is included in NCERT’s new Class 9 textbook; he quoted about respecting women

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has included a passage from Manu-smriti in its new Class 9 Social Science textbook to explain that women were honored during the Vedic period. Manusmriti has been debated for years. Many critics say that it justifies social differences, while others argue that it is part of Indian culture and say that its teachings are often misunderstood.In the NCERT book, under the heading State and Society up to 1000 CE, the book says that the Vedic period “is often described as a time when women held a high and honorable position in society”.The book adds that the tradition of honoring women continued in the texts written after the Vedic period. Then it quotes Manu-smriti 3.56, which says: “Where women are honored, then the gods are pleased;Immediately after quoting the verse, the book says that the status of women has changed over time. It says, “Over time, women’s roles and responsibilities changed, even diminished, as social and political conditions changed. However, there are many examples of women continuing to contribute to housekeeping, agriculture, handicrafts, and religious ceremonies.”This chapter also provides examples of future tenses. It is said that the Gupta-Vakataka period literature describes learned women with artistic skills and also mentions queens who participated in governance and religious support. It also highlights the women who are mentioned in the Sangam literature as active participants in economic and social life.This book also repeats the concepts of varna and jati. It says that the early Vedic society did not divide society on the basis of birth. According to this book, social identity is formed by several factors, including race, region, language, occupation and social relations.It also explains that the four varnas gradually became associated with special roles but were treated as functional groups rather than strict divisions. According to the book, the jati system later developed due to intermarriage, endogamy and regional differences. It adds that although the number of varna was fixed at four, there was no limit on the number of jatis, which continued to increase as new professions and social classes emerged.