SociologyIndian Society: Patterns of Social Inequality and Exclusion

How do the popular images in mythology in India portray the disabled?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → In an extremely negative fashion

Option (1) As persons blessed with special divine gifts — Incorrect. The cultural conception sees an impaired body as a result of fate and as retribution for past karma. Images built on such ideas do not show the disabled as blessed with divine gifts.

Option (2) As heroes who rise above their fate — Incorrect. In the dominant view, destiny is the culprit and disabled people are its victims, with no reprieve. Heroes who rise above fate do not fit this picture.

Option (3) In an extremely negative fashion — Correct. The popular images in mythology portray the disabled in an extremely negative fashion. They come from the view that disability is fate or punishment for past actions.

Option (4) In a neutral, matter-of-fact manner — Incorrect. A neutral, matter-of-fact picture carries no judgement. The images in mythology carry a strong negative judgement of the disabled.

NCERT (2026-27): “5.4 The Struggles of the Disabled …
The roots of such attitudes lie in the cultural conception that views an impaired body as a result of fate. Destiny is seen as the culprit, and disabled people are the victims. The common perception views disability as retribution for past karma (actions) from which there can be no reprieve. The dominant cultural construction in India therefore looks at disability as essentially a characteristic of the individual. The popular images in mythology portray the disabled in an extremely negative fashion.”