Which of the following statements is not true about women's access to property as mentioned in the Manusmriti?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Stridhana could be inherited by their children, only if the husband does not claim it.
Option (1) Women could not claim a share of the paternal estate/resources. — Correct statement. According to the Manusmriti, the paternal estate was divided equally amongst sons after the death of the parents, with a special share for the eldest; women could not claim a share of these resources.
Option (2) Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the occasion of their marriage as stridhana. — Correct statement. These gifts were their stridhana, literally a woman’s wealth.
Option (3) Stridhana could be inherited by their children, only if the husband does not claim it. — Incorrect statement. Stridhana could be inherited by their children without the husband having any claim on it. The husband had no claim at all, so there is no condition “only if the husband does not claim it”.
Option (4) Women were warned against hoarding family property, or even their own valuables, without the husband’s permission. — Correct statement. At the same time, the Manusmriti warned women against hoarding family property, or even their own valuables, without the husband’s permission.
NCERT (2026-27): “4.1 Gendered access to property … According to the Manusmriti, the paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons after the death of the parents, with a special share for the eldest. Women could not claim a share of these resources. However, women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the occasion of their marriage as stridhana (literally, a woman’s wealth). This could be inherited by their children, without the husband having any claim on it. At the same time, the Manusmriti warned women against hoarding family property, or even their own valuables, without the husband’s permission.…” |