THE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM RATHER THAN A COMMANDMENT

8. Polygamy and Islam ~ 189 ~ THE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM RATHER THAN A COMMANDMENT The above discussion makes it clear that the difference in number of men and women is a permanent problem existing in both war and peace. Now the question arises as to how to solve this problem. What should those women do to satisfy their natural urges when they have failed to find a husband in a monogamous society? And how are they to secure an honorable life in that society? One way — hallowed in Indian tradition — is for widows to bum themselves to death, so that neither they nor their problems survive. The alternative is to allow themselves to be turned out of their homeson to the streets. The state of Hindu society resulting from adherence to this principle can be judged from a detailed report published in India Today159 entitled “Widows: Wrecks of Humanity.” Now there is no need to discuss this further, because it is inconceivable that in present times any sensible person would advocate this as a solution. The other possible solution’ to be found in the