As literature is aptly called the mirror of society, it portrays the image of women in accordance with their social bearings. In keeping with the women‘s perceived image of fairer sex‘, women have been variously portrayed in Indian literature. However, though the roles played by women in literature are often quite extensive, women were generally depicted as secondary characters to the greater men who carried the story line further.
They simply offered a supporting and balancing role in the midst of the action. The concept of woman as a being is provided from our age old ancestors. Even the great myths of Indian literature portray women as pathetic creatures. The deep seated patriarchal notions forbid women to realize and express their roles. They are unaware of their own capacities and hence unable to raise their voice against their undeserved suffering.
Down from the religious texts and epics of the ancient times to the secular literature of 3rd/4th and 15th/16th centuries, literature in India has remained men-centric in general. Though a few literary works - both of Sanskrit and of Vernacular languages - revolve around strong female protagonists, their portrayal may be termed as secondary, as they are generally created by men. Only during the phase of the Bhakti movement, some female poetesses gave vent to their feelings by means of poetry. The 17th - 18th century India was a demoralized lot because of political-economic instability with only a few socio-cultural activities. The literature of the age too, followed suit as the age failed to produce any significant literary works.