International Journal of History

Author(s): Hage Naku

Abstract: This study explores the historical and contemporary transformation of women’s roles among the Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, within the broader framework of Indian cultural values that revere femininity as Shakti, Prakriti, and Matrusatta. Traditionally, Apatani women were confined to domestic and agricultural roles within a patriarchal system that denied them education, property rights, priesthood, and political participation. However, gradual social reform, the expansion of modern education, Panchayati Raj reforms, and exposure to external influences catalyzed significant changes. The research highlights how Apatani women created new spaces for themselves in education, politics, religion, and economic ventures, breaking away from stigmas such as tattooing, child marriage, and social subordination. The emergence of female doctors, engineers, bureaucrats, social workers, entrepreneurs, and priests demonstrates a dynamic shift from exclusion to empowerment. While challenges of male chauvinism and patriarchal constraints persist, the Apatani case study exemplifies resilience, adaptation, and women’s agency in navigating tradition and modernity. This research concludes that education and political participation remain the strongest instruments of empowerment, offering a model for women’s advancement in tribal and patriarchal societies across India.

DOI: 10.22271/27069109.2025.v7.i8b.499

Pages: 110-114 | Views: 370 | Downloads: 118

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