The Indian Encyclopaedia describes a Gosha or a Gosha woman as one who follows the Islamic law of concealing herself from the sight of men, except certain close relatives. It considers it a word derived from the Hindustani language,[1] it is a synonym for women kept in purdah, used in southern India.[2]
Photographs
editThe Supreme Court of India rejected a petition challenging the Madras High Court's dismissal of a petition on September 7, 2006, a few days prior to the Madurai Central by-election which sought seeking for issuance of writ of mandamus forbearing the Election Commission of India "from in any way publishing or releasing the photographs of the women particularly the Muslim Gosha women in the eligible voter's list in respect of all the Constituencies in the State of Tamil Nadu particularly for the ensuring bye-election to Madurai Central Assembly Constituency."[3] The court observed that "electoral rolls with photographs cannot be opposed on the grounds that they hurt religious sentiments."[4]
Exemption from the Administrator of Lakshadweep Islands
editThe Administrator of Lakshadweep Islands exempts Gosha women from submitting photographs for entry permits. The islands are a Union territory of India, they are a restricted area wherein Indian citizens "...not a native of these islands, shall have to obtain a permit in the Prescribed Form from the Competent authority, for entering into and residing in these islands.[5]
Medical needs
editHistory of Deccan mentions that until lady doctors arrived in 1884, gosha women of Hyderabad State were at the mercy of unqualified health practitioners.[6] The Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children of Chennai was earlier called The Victoria Caste and Gosha Hospital.[7] Van Hollen sees purdah as an Orientalist "trope", which constructs the colonised other to legitimise colonial authority, she quotes Lal in pointing the contradiction in British policy, colonial discourse represented purdah as a sign of India's barbarism yet it accommodated it, as seen in the opening of the Gosha hospital.[8]
Government Museum, Chennai
editThe Government Museum, Chennai had at one time provided a time slot for Gosha women. During such a time no male visitors were allowed.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kapoor, Subodh (2002). The Indian Encyclopaedia: Gautami Ganga -Himmat Bahadur. Cosmo Publications. pp. 2674–. ISBN 978-81-7755-266-9. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ Denning, Margaret Beahm (1902). Mosaics from India: talks about India, its peoples, religions and customs. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Shah, A. P.; Chandru K. (2006-09-07). "M.Ajmal Khan vs The Election Commission Of India on 7 September 2006". indiankanoon.org/. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ "Don't vote if can't shed burqa, SC tells Muslim women". zeenews.india.com/. Noida: Zee News Limited. 2010-01-23. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ "RESTRICTION ON ENTRY AND RESIDENCE APPLICATION FORMS FOR PERMIT/PERMISSION". lakshadweep.nic.in/depts/revenue/index.htm. Lakshadweep: Administrator, Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ Gribble JD E. history of the decan. Mittal Publications. pp. 257–. GGKEY:KPSWZE0BG05. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ Puranik, G. K. (1954). Rural India. R. G. Gupta. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ Hollen, Cecilia Coale Van (2003). Birth on the Threshold: Childbirth and Modernity in South India. Zubaan. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-81-86706-72-5. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ South Indian Railway Co., Ltd (1 August 2004). Illustrated guide to the South Indian Railway (Incorporated in England): including the Tanjore District Board, Pondicherry, Peralam-Karaikkal, Travancore State, Cochin State, Coimbatore District Board, Tinnevelly-Tiruchendur, and the Nilgiri Railways. Asian Educational Services. pp. 21–. ISBN 978-81-206-1889-3. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
