Buddhist literature contains a storehouse of information on the vibrant presence of women in ancient society - both nuns and laywomen. Works such as the Tipitaka, the Apadana, the Khuddaka Nikaya and the Anguttara Nikaya contain references to the role of women. The frescoes and sculptures in Buddhist caves also depict a portrait of women in ancient times. At our Online Talk #BuddhasDaughters, historian Dr Radha Kumar looks at historical sources, both literary and archeological, to construct the position of women in the Buddhist era.

About the speaker

Dr Radha Kumar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ancient Indian, History, Culture and Archaeology at St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Her Doctoral dissertation degree was on “The Impact of Buddhism on Ancient Indian Polity.” She also holds a Sangit Alankar in both Sitar and Bharat Natyam. She is also the recipient of the Tata Heras Postdoctoral fellowship to pursue her research on the Alampur Nava Brahma Temples. She is a Ex Vice-President of the India Association of the Study of Religion, and is the Faculty Advisor for Department of Inter-Religious Studies at St Xavier’s College.