Frogs in a Well: Indian Women in Purdah

Frogs in a Well is a case study of women at one of India's most sacred Muslim shrines—that of the Sufi saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya—which lies four miles south of Old Delhi. It is essentially a study of women living in strict purdah. Their situation is so different from that familiar to most non-Muslims today that it is difficult to grasp either the rationale for purdah or the social forces that perpetuate it. Patricia Jeffery's book is an analysis of these forces, but always within the context of a delicate portrayal of these women's way of life and outlook. Purdah is an elemental part of the Islamic tradition and is still the way of life of many millions of women. Why do so many women accept this seclusion, which would appear to confine their social roles to reproduction and the service of men? Jeffery argues that 'Islamic ideology' is only part of the explanation. More important is the gross insecurity of life in society as a whole, men's monopolistic control over economic resources, and the personal security that purdah gives to women in their situation. No wonder the women who speak through this book—despite seeing themselves as 'frogs in a well'—are' ambivalent about purdah. Dr. Patricia Jeffery is a social anthropologist at the University of Edinburgh. Influenced in part by the emerging Women's Movement in Britain, she has focused her research in Pakistan and India increasingly on issues relating to the subjection of women. Her scholarly training, fluency in Urdu, and sensitive rapport with the women she is studying have enabled her to write a book about Muslim women under strict purdah that penetrates fully the subtle nuances and ambiguity of their social position.