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,
it is a synonym for women kept in
purdah, used in southern
India.
[ ]
Photographs
The 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
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."
The court observed that "electoral rolls with photographs cannot be opposed on the grounds that they hurt religious sentiments."
Exemption from the Administrator of Lakshadweep Islands
The 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.
Medical needs
History of Deccan mentions that until lady doctors arrived in 1884, gosha women of
Hyderabad State were at the mercy of unqualified health practitioners.
The Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children of
Chennai was earlier called The Victoria Caste and Gosha Hospital.
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.
Government Museum, Chennai
The Government Museum, Chennai had at one time provided a time slot for Gosha women. During such a time no male visitors were allowed.
See also
