Status of widows in society

சமூகத்தில் கைம்பெண்டிர் நிலை

Abstract

In Tamil society, a woman who has lost her husband is called a ‘widow’. Kalaignar considered that the word ‘widow’ did not have a dot, so he started calling it ‘Kaimpen’(widow) with two tilaks instead. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, the number of widows is around 40 lakh. According to a UN report, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of widows in India. ‘Vrindavan’ in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India is the city with the highest number of widows. From ancient times to the present day, women have never been forced to marry. Only in the books Natrinai and Purananooru, there are reports of widowhood. It is worth thinking that the rules on how men who have lost their wives should live are not mentioned in the Sangam literature. The women themselves died with their husbands. The custom of marrying a widow is a special feature of the royal family. It is also clear that this custom of marrying a widow does not exist among ordinary people. In the life of a bride, the removal of flowers is done automatically when the hair is removed. At the wedding, the auspicious women congratulate the bride. There is no information about the bride's congratulatory greetings or participating in the events during the Sangam period. A woman, who is considered to be entitled to her husband, considers it her duty to provide an heir and protect the pride of her clan. It can be seen that this society does not approve of her living with another man or having another child after the death of her husband.